New England Anti-Mascot Coalition

Members Present:

Members Absent:

Others Present:

Mrs. Peggy Parker, Chair
Mr. Robert Watson
Mr. Frank Callaghan
Ms. Diane Moody

Mr. John Rossi

Mr. Kent Hemingway
Mrs. Anne Grassie
Mr. Charles DeVito
Mr. William Brennan
Mrs. Dorothy Callaghan
Mr. David Colson
Mr. Peter Sanfaçon
Mr. Maurice Sanfaçon

Mrs. Parker called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm with a quorum present.

SHS Mascot Discussion — Mr. Sanfaçon reviewed a letter he recently submitted to the Board requesting that Spaulding High School no longer use the "Red Raider" Native American mascot. He presented substantial supplemental information with positions taken by many civic, educational and social service groups opposed to the use of Native American mascots.

Committee members indicated that this issue had been considered by the school department in recent years and that there was not substantial interest expressed by any members of the Rochester community to make a change.

There was considerable discussion of the issue with committee members expressing opinions on both sides of the issue. All agreed that this topic required more time and attention before any decision could be reached.

"I remembered a saying I had read on the back of a tea box. It said something like this—if you argue with a fool, someone passing by will not be able to tell who is the fool and who is not. I did not wish to be taken for a fool."

from Mankiller—A Chief and Her People, the autobiography of Wilma Mankiller, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, 1985-1995. Wilma Mankiller was the first woman to hold that post.

Mrs. Callaghan spoke of her experience working summers on an Arizona Native American reservation for 16 years. She expressed that in her experience; the tribes she worked with celebrated the recognition and were not offended by the use of the Red Raider representing Rochester Schools.

Mr. Sanfaçon shared the positions of many Native American groups in opposition of the mascot and provided web sites and considerable documentation of the issue. He also spoke of NH schools that have changed their mascot and the position of the NH State Board of Education requesting that schools change to non-Native American mascots. He expressed concerns about racial discrimination particularly in reference to the red face depicted in some versions of the Spaulding logo.

Mr. Colson spoke to the issue with information from both state and national athletic associations. There has been conflicting decisions and directions in different communities and different parts of the country to the perception of discrimination in the use of a Native American logo or mascot.

It is the recommendation of the committee that this issue be studied again in more depth, requesting input from students, staff, community and alumni.

Mr. Hemingway was directed to establish an opportunity for information to be gathered and a broader discussion to take place on this issue. He will report progress on this topic to the Special Services Committee at the April 20 meeting.

Emergency Response Grant — Mr. Hemingway presented a summary of activity implementing the Emergency Response and Crisis Management Grant awarded to the district in 2003. Team leaders from each building will meet next week to develop emergency management plans specific to each school. Title 1 Director Marty Brennan is now grant manager, and will travel with Mr. Hemingway and Middle School Resource Officer Jim Bonneau to a Safety Management Conference in Wakefield , MA later this month.

At 7:30 pm , Mr. Watson, second by Mr. Callaghan, to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,

Mrs. Peggy Parker, Chair