To the Rochester School Board,
I'd like to thank the members of the Special Services Committee for allowing me to address the issue of Spaulding's Red Raiders name and logo. Despite the recent "majority-rule" decision, it remains my strong feeling that using stereotypic names and images of Native Americans as symbols of sports teams in publicly funded high schools is extremely insensitive to real Native Americans and prevents non-Indian students from gaining a genuine understanding of Native American cultures.
I'd like to thank Principal Pedersen for greeting me after Tuesday night's meeting and sharing with me his feelings on the spirit and pride displayed by the student body. It is my hope that in the coming school year Spaulding will introduce at least one comprehensive course in Native American Studies. This education is sorely lacking at the school, which currently offers 240 courses to students, none of which provides any education specifically about the ethnic group the school purports to honor. I urge the administration at Spaulding to consider a permanent display on school property that not only demonstrates the school's understanding of Native American culture, but also educates the student body and the community about the economic and social conditions of Indigenous Peoples in this country today.
Peggy Parker, Special Services Committee Chair, was very gracious and professional during both meetings and she has my gratitude. I want to thank Assistant Superintendent Kent Hemingway for his cooperation and understanding. He has helped facilitate these proceedings and I feel that these discussions have been a very good beginning.
The issue of paying for a name and logo change was brought up during Tuesday's meeting. What percentage of the sales of Red Raider merchandise is currently set aside for Native American charitable organizations? If we are, indeed, sincere about honoring Native Americans, I urge the School Board to learn more about organizations like NativeGiving.org, the United American Indians of New England, and the American Indian College Fund, and take immediate steps to share some of the school's profits with real Native Americans in need.
I especially want to thank committee member Bob Watson for the tremendous amount of courage he demonstrated on Tuesday night by making the motion to terminate the Red Raiders name and logo by the end of this school year. Despite the unanimous opposition to this motion within the Special Services Committee and among the public in attendance, Mr. Watson chose to stand up for what he believes is the right thing to do. He should be commended for his integrity.
I urge the School Board not to let this opportunity for real education pass us by. Learn more about the large number of responsible American Indian, religious, educational, civil rights, and psychological related groups who have been calling for an end to the use of Native American names, images, and mascots for school sports teams for the past thirty years. There are countless websites on the topic, as well as literature and videos that offer the Native American perspective. I strongly suggest a public viewing of the PBS documentary In Whose Honor?, which provides additional information on the Native American mascot debate. DVDs and videotapes can be obtained by visiting inwhosehonor.com. We owe it to our children to provide them with all the information we can on this important issue.
Lastly, I want to thank Judy Cohen, faculty advisor to the Human Rights Club at Spaulding. She had asked me to read her letter to the committee on Tuesday night and I was proud to do so. Ms. Cohen is only one of many at Spaulding who understand the importance of cultural sensitivity, inclusion, and diversity, issues the Rochester School Board might have considered when scheduling this evening's meeting on the Jewish Passover and the Catholic Holy Thursday. Take a look around the room tonight at all the white faces and ask yourselves if Rochester—where I was born and raised—is really as sensitive to other cultures as it could be.
Sincerely,
Pete Sanfaçon
Spaulding Class of 1977
Note: This letter was forwarded to Assistant Superintendent Kent Hemingway with a request that it be read at that evening's Regular School Board meeting. The letter was never read or even acknowledged by the Rochester School District.
