New York state education officials plan to cut off all funds to public schools and fire school officials who use Native American mascots or imagery.
A Nov. 17 memo sent to school districts from James N. Baldwin, senior deputy commissioner for the State Education Department, warns all state public schools using a Native American mascot without permission from a tribe must immediately cease its use or face harsh consequences.
“Should a district fail to affirmatively commit to replacing its Native American team name, logo, and/or imagery by the end of the 2022-23 school year, it may be in willful violation of the Dignity Act. The penalties for such a violation include the removal of school officers and the withholding of State Aid,” Baldwin warns.
Baldwin specifically threatened schools in Cambridge, which voted to retire its Indian mascot in 2021 before reversing its decision. Baldwin cited a state Supreme Court ruling that Cambridge schools must adhere to a State Education Commission decision that Native American mascots harm a child’s ability to learn.
“Thus, the court’s decision establishes that public school districts are prohibited from utilizing Native American mascots,” Baldwin ordered. “Arguments that community members support the use of such imagery or that it is ‘respectful’ to Native Americans are no longer tenable.”
“Those school districts that continue to utilize Native American team names, logos, and/or imagery without current approval from a recognized tribe must immediately come into compliance,” writes Baldwin. “Should they require guidance, districts may reach out to those districts that successfully retired their mascots or their local Board of Cooperative Education Services. The Department is developing regulations that will clarify school districts’ obligations in this respect.”
The use of Native American mascots has attracted attention and debate in the media, with the MLB’s Cleveland Indians and the NFL’s Washington Redskins changing their names, but most polls find Native Americans do not find them offensive.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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Get rid of the New York State education officials.
Here, hear! Exactly! There are too
many officials with too much time on their hands. It’s been noted time and again that Native Americans (Indians) do not find using their names as mascots offensive. In fact, it is flattering and all I know have never behaved otherwise!! I’m getting disgusted with all the hype over “offensive.” I don’t plan to change my attitudes or language. I’ve always respected others in their beliefs and opinions, and I expect the same courtesy!
A Native American woman once told me that she is not offended by being called Indian. I explained to her that I don’t call Native Americans “Indians” simply for clarity: Indian culture is drastically different than Native American culture. And I know a lot more Indians than Native Americans.
Why are politicians, etc. trying to remove native Americans from our history. I would think having a school, building, etc. named for you, or your heritage would be an honor. Stop the nonsense!!
New yorkers should stop paying taxes. Its time for a fight, methinks.
I just thought of a new way for tribes in NY State to make some extra money…offer their approval of your school’s mascot for a fee. For the cost of a letter and a stamp, they could make a bundle and save the schools the cost of changing their branding. Win-win for everyone except His Majesty James N. Baldwin.
Good then Go Private
Let me get this straight. Honoring Native Americans by naming mascots after them is disrespectful and inhibits children from learning.
How this happens is not explained.
Apparently, to intolerant leftists, the only way to respect a culture is to completely erase any mention of its existence. So, if you are a white Caucasian, you must never ever acknowledge that anyone other than white Caucasians even exists. So, forget about those dark Caucasians (who live in India and the Middle East) and eradicate thoughts of any non-Caucasians. Denying that they exist is the only woke way to respect them.
How this happens is not explained. Is a good point, Stacy. Note Baldwin says:
“Arguments that community members support the use of such imagery or that it is ‘respectful’ to Native Americans are no longer tenable.”
Baldwin should be forced to prove that imagery “inhibits children from learning”. His argument in my view is not “tenable”. This is another 1st amendment issue. Anything “American” is being attacked to destroy the history of our country. It is a shame that New Yorkers vote en masse for democrats; now they get another four years of Democrat rule that could otherwise have been stymied had the voters elected Lee Zelden. This should be a lesson for all. Never vote for Democrats!