Letter to the Editor
Portsmouth Herald—Seacoastonline
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Time to demonstrate courage and leadership
According to information posted on their website, the Rochester School Board "is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in relation to race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, ancestry, national origin, handicap, or social or economic status." Spaulding High School, which I attended in the 1970s, has published this same policy in their 2006-2007 Program of Studies. The sports teams at the nearly all-white public school, funded in part by federal tax dollars, are called the "Red Raiders." Their logo is a racial stereotype depicting an Indian man whose skin is a grotesque and inhuman bright red—the same bright red worn on team uniforms.
The School Board's policy goes on to state that the Board "encourages its staff to improve human relations within the schools, and to establish channels through which citizens can communicate their human relations concerns to the administration and the Board."
The Board hasn't demonstrated that it's committed to this policy of nondiscrimination, nor has it established effective channels of communication. It has only spent two measly little hours discussing the matter this year. Why? Why were no Native people with opposing views invited to share their opinions? Racism in all its forms—especially when sanctioned by our public school system—is a very serious matter.
In a recent letter to School Superintendent Michael Hopkins, I recommended the formation of a multicultural panel to discuss and address the issue of ethnic stereotypes in our public schools. Why has the superintendent and Rochester School Board ignored repeated requests to continue this dialogue? Ignoring advocates for change in hopes they will simply go away will not solve the problem. This issue will simply continue to resurface until it is addressed in good faith and a change is finally made. The Rochester I remember growing up was a more enlightened and welcoming community.
Please urge the Spaulding administration and the Rochester School Board to keep this discussion going. Please tell them that you insist on the presence of Native American people during all future discussions.
It's time to demonstrate courage and leadership and stop letting ignorance, arrogance, and hypocrisy rule.
Pete Sanfaçon
Framingham, Massachusetts
This letter was never published.