NYS Education Dept. Asks Schools To Stop Using Native American Imagery

ALBANY, NY — The New York State Education Department has ordered school districts to drop Native American influence from their mascots, team names, and logos by the end of the school year or forgo financial aid.

Senior Deputy Commissioner James Baldwin told the districts that the guidance evolved after an upstate school district recently lost a legal battle to keep “Indians” as its team name, logo, and mascot.

The court's decision "establishes that public school districts are prohibited from utilizing Native American mascots," Baldwin wrote, adding, "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," he continued.

The guidance could affect several school districts on Long Island, including Sachem, Brentwood, Manhasset, Massapequa, Sewanhaka, and Syosset. All have been cited in petitions on change.org.

If a district fails "to affirmatively commit to replacing its team name, logo, and/or imagery by the end of the 2022 to 23 school year, it may be a 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 wrote.

"Schools are learning environments; students learn as much through observation of their surroundings as they do from direct instruction," he wrote. "In addition to their legal obligations, boards of education that continue to utilize Native American mascots must reflect upon the message their choices convey to students, parents, and their communities."

Patch has reached out to the Unkechaug and Shinnecock indian nations for comment.

Some school districts have already stopped using Native American references, such as in East Islip where the district dropped its logo last year and Shelter Island removed its "Indians" name for sports teams two years ago. Brentwood has also considered removing the name "Indians" from its mascots.

Education Commissioner Betty Rosa addressed the new mandate on Friday morning in her notes, saying the department "wishes to ensure school districts’ knowledge of a recent legal decision and their concomitant need to ensure that mascots, team names, and logos are nondiscriminatory," Newsday reported.

Also in his letter, Baldwin told the state's districts that the education department opposes the use of Native American mascots, noting that in 2001, former Commissioner Richard Mills issued a memo "concluding that the use of Native American symbols or depictions as mascots can become a barrier to building a safe and nurturing school community and improving academic achievement for all students."

Mills' memo went on to say that "there is a state interest in providing a safe and supportive learning environment for every child" and asked that boards of education "end the use of Native American mascots as soon as practical."

Jacqueline Sweet contributed additional reporting to this story.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.