Home / Education / NY School District Accused of Erasing Heritage
NY School District Accused of Erasing Heritage
24 Jan
Summary
- Federal officials claim district violated civil rights law.
- The district changed its name from 'Thunderbirds' to 'T-Birds'.
- The change aimed to comply with state ban on Native American mascots.
A New York school district is facing accusations from federal education officials for allegedly "erasing its Native American heritage" through a recent team name change. The Connetquot Central School District on Long Island altered its team name from the "Thunderbirds" to the "T-Birds" to comply with a state mandate that prohibits Native American sports names and mascots.
However, the U.S. Department of Education contends that this state regulation violates civil rights law. Officials argue that the ban is discriminatory because it permits schools to retain names associated with other racial or ethnic groups, such as "Dutchmen" or "Huguenots." This selective enforcement, they claim, is unequal under the law.
The school district is currently reviewing the federal finding. The state education department, meanwhile, has criticized the federal conclusion, stating it undermines civil rights laws. The district had previously agreed to use the "T-Birds" name and related imagery, like an eagle or lightning bolt, in exchange for dropping a legal challenge to the state's mascot ban.
