Council Rock School Board Will Address Mascot Debate

NEWTOWN, PA — The Council Rock School Board will address the debate over Council Rock High School North's mascot at an upcoming meeting, the school board president told Patch.

Ed Tate said the Council Rock School Board "certainly" will address the issue, which has prompted two dueling petitions: one in support of changing the mascot from an Indian, the other urging school officials to keep it the same.

The first petition was launched in late August and calls on the Council Rock School Board to initiate a vote to see if students want to keep or change the mascot from an Indian. It had more than 1,000 supporters as of Monday afternoon.

In response, a second petition was created in support of keeping it the Indian. That petition, created by 2002 Council Rock North graduate Paula Folger, has more than 4,200 supporters.

Advocates for keeping the mascot as it is say that people are being too sensitive about the issue, and maintain the Indian is an important local historical reference.

However, those in support of considering a change say the Indian mascot is racist and perpetuates negative stereotypes of Native Americans.

The item will be on the agenda during an upcoming meeting, Tate said. A date for that discussion has not yet been set, but Tate said "we are paying attention to the discussion."

RELATED:

• Debate Over CR-North Mascot Continues As Second Petition Is Launched
• Petition To Change Council Rock North's Mascot Gains Steam