WEAC Supports Bill Relating To Ethnic Mascots
WEAC submitted testimony Thursday (October 18, 2007) to the State Senate Education Committee in support of Senate Bill 132, allowing residents to object to their school’s use of an ethnic name, nickname, logo, or mascot by appealing to the state superintendent.
The statement said the hearing process described in the bill and the state superintendent’s ability to levy a financial penalty is "fair and reasonable."
Under the bill, the state
superintendent must schedule a hearing on a complaint, at which the school board
has the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the use of the ethnic
name, nickname, logo, or mascot does not promote discrimination, pupil harassment
or stereotyping. If the state superintendent finds in favor of the complainant, the
state superintendent must order the school board to terminate its use of the ethnic
name, nickname, logo, or mascot within 12 months after issuance of the order. A
school board is subject to a forfeiture of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 for
each day that it uses the ethnic name, nickname, logo, or mascot in violation of the
order. The decision of the state superintendent is subject to circuit court review.
"WEAC supports accurate teaching and curricular materials relating to American Indian issues, past and present," according to the statement. It said WEAC also opposes the use of American Indian mascots, nicknames and logos by Wisconsin school districts.
WEAC’s official position was revised by the WEAC Representative Assembly in 2004 to include a statement putting the organization in opposition to Indian mascots. WEAC Resolution B-16 reads:
American Indian Education
The WEAC encourages curriculum and teaching programs that foster respect for Wisconsin American Indian culture, history, treaty rights and sovereignty.
The Council recognizes that the use of American Indian mascots, nicknames, logos and symbols within our public schools is offensive, and has a detrimental effect on the educational achievement of American Indian students.
The Council supports and recommends the elimination of American Indian mascots, nicknames, logos, fight songs, insignias, antics and team descriptors by all Wisconsin schools.
In its statement to the committee, WEAC said it believes that a school’s use of an American Indian name, nickname, logo, or mascot stands in the way of Wisconsin citizens gaining a deeper understanding of important American Indian issues.
"Promoting cultural and racial sensitivity and respect is an important issue for public schools, and the use of these objectionable images harms not only the many American Indian people who are offended, but all citizens of our state," according to the statement.
WEAC said it stands with the following groups that oppose the use of Indian names, nicknames, logos, and/or mascots: the Wisconsin Indian Education Association, the Youth Indian Mascot and Logo Task Force, the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the Sokaogon (Mole Lake) Chippewa Tribe, the St. Croix Chippewa Tribe, the Forest County Potawatomi Community, the Oneida Tribe of Indians, the Stockbridge-Munsee Indians of Wisconsin, the Ho Chunk Nation, the Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin, the National Congress of American Indians, and the National Indian Education Association.
Posted October 18, 2007