Idaho School Dropping ’Redskins’ Name, Mascot

http://www.usatodayhss.com/news/article/teton-high-school-idaho-drops-redskins-nickname

The decision at Teton High School in Driggs is a way to encourage students and the community to see beyond skin color and stereotypes, said Monte Woolstenhulm, superintendent of District 401. Motivation also came from renewed efforts nationally to change nicknames and logos deemed offensive to many Native Americans.

“Students need to be taught to see people beyond the color of their skin,” said Woolstenhulm, who was a student at the school. “They need to get to know who people are without using nicknames or assumptions based on outward appearances.

Woolstenhulm expects the decision will draw some criticism, but dropping the name won initial approval from the school board Monday night.

Last month, 10 members of Congress sent letters to the owner of the Washington Redskins NFL and the league commissioner urging the team to change the name. The letter to team owner Daniel Snyder says that “Native Americans throughout the country consider the ’R-word’ a racial, derogatory slur akin to the ’N-word’ among African Americans.

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