Waltham Elementary Mascot Rebrand
The Issue
The purpose of this petition is to gather support for the change of the Waltham Elementary mascot, the R*dsk*ns.
The formal definition of the term R*dsk*n is a noun, older slang: disparaging and offensive. A contemptuous term used to refer to a North American Indian (Dictionary.com). The violent and disturbing origin of the word refers to the grotesque act of hunting down and skinning their ancestors' scalps for cash bounties (Esquire.com).
In the latter part of 2005, the American Psychological Association (APA) adopted a resolution calling upon schools to end the use of American Indian mascots, symbols, images, and personalities for their athletic teams. The resolution cites, among other concerns, the potential negative impact the use of such mascots, symbols, images, and personalities have on the mental health of all students, particularly American Indian students (APA.org).
We believe that stereotypical American Indian logos do not support sound educational practice because they interfere with a school’s efforts to provide accurate information related to the history, culture, and tribal sovereignty of American Indian nations. In addition to ensuring sound educational practices, we need to promote safety and wellness within all children in our school.
The PBIS pledge our children recite every day states they will “Take responsibility for the energy I bring into this space. My words matter. My behavior matters. My peers and teachers matter. I matter. I will be respectful, responsible, safe, and kind.”
The PBIS pledge sets the expectation that Waltham students, teachers, and staff will deliver a positive experience for every child through attention to and respect for diversity, including differences in race and culture. Stereotypical logos can hurt our children, albeit unintentionally.
For all these reasons, we call for the elimination of these logos from our school.
This petition is brought to you by the Waltham Elementary Mascot Rebrand Task Force: A group of Waltham Elementary parents dedicated to identifying ways to increase inclusivity, promote safety and wellness, and continued learning and respect for all students.
Emily Carney, Megan Gatza, Melinda Magerkurth, Kylie Mattioda
The Issue
The purpose of this petition is to gather support for the change of the Waltham Elementary mascot, the R*dsk*ns.
The formal definition of the term R*dsk*n is a noun, older slang: disparaging and offensive. A contemptuous term used to refer to a North American Indian (Dictionary.com). The violent and disturbing origin of the word refers to the grotesque act of hunting down and skinning their ancestors' scalps for cash bounties (Esquire.com).
In the latter part of 2005, the American Psychological Association (APA) adopted a resolution calling upon schools to end the use of American Indian mascots, symbols, images, and personalities for their athletic teams. The resolution cites, among other concerns, the potential negative impact the use of such mascots, symbols, images, and personalities have on the mental health of all students, particularly American Indian students (APA.org).
We believe that stereotypical American Indian logos do not support sound educational practice because they interfere with a school’s efforts to provide accurate information related to the history, culture, and tribal sovereignty of American Indian nations. In addition to ensuring sound educational practices, we need to promote safety and wellness within all children in our school.
The PBIS pledge our children recite every day states they will “Take responsibility for the energy I bring into this space. My words matter. My behavior matters. My peers and teachers matter. I matter. I will be respectful, responsible, safe, and kind.”
The PBIS pledge sets the expectation that Waltham students, teachers, and staff will deliver a positive experience for every child through attention to and respect for diversity, including differences in race and culture. Stereotypical logos can hurt our children, albeit unintentionally.
For all these reasons, we call for the elimination of these logos from our school.
This petition is brought to you by the Waltham Elementary Mascot Rebrand Task Force: A group of Waltham Elementary parents dedicated to identifying ways to increase inclusivity, promote safety and wellness, and continued learning and respect for all students.
Emily Carney, Megan Gatza, Melinda Magerkurth, Kylie Mattioda
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on April 7, 2023