Submitted by David Anderson and Paul Wagemann.
In the December 13, 2021, meeting of the Clover Park School Board, the directors were unanimous in pausing the end-of-year deadline by which to have selected the new mascot of Clover Park High School.
As the school board director who initiated this recommendation that the deadline be extended, Director David Anderson believes the school board acted responsibly, communicating to the community on the very night new board directors were sworn in and new board officers elected, that just as the vote of the people matters, so the voice of the people matters as much or more.
Any time and anything we can do as a school board that puts the public back in public education is to at the same time be building upon the basics of Basic Education.
RCW 28A.150.210 Basic education – Goals of school districts:
“The legislature finds that improving student achievement will require: Parents to be primary partners in the education of their children, and to play a significantly greater role in local school decision making.”
That’s why a pause on the mascot matter, matters. It allows not only additional opportunity for the public to play a significantly greater role in local decision making, but at the same time encourages all concerned to see this for the educational, collaborative, and community-building process it affords.
Directors David Anderson and Paul Wagemann do not speak for the school board. But, like the rest of the school board, as elected representatives, we do want to speak for, and hear from, those we represent.
Hence a proposal.
We believe it is in the best interest of our school district – in this and all future ‘controversies’ – that a panel discussion be held in a public forum to discuss the issue.
It is American screenwriter, director, as well as a comic book writer, author, and actor Kevin Smith who wrote, “‘Controversial’ as we all know, is often a euphemism for ‘interesting and intelligent.”
In other words, what is ‘controversial’ can often be an educational blessing in disguise.
The next regular school board meeting is scheduled for January 10, 2022, 6 pm, at which time your presence and voice is encouraged.
Even better, however, is what Matt Zalaznick advised in the November 19, 2021, edition of the American monthly trade publication for education leaders in public K-12 school districts.
“Superintendents and their administration teams should hold more town hall-style meetings to allow the public to speak out on contentious issues. Such gatherings would be a better forum than school board meetings.”
Gathering leaders for a panel discussion from the Steilacoom and Puyallup Tribes, from the Cowlitz to the Tulalip, from the State Legislature to Northwest Indigenous Affairs (this list by no means exhaustive), and inviting the public – many of whom, including Director Wagemann, have suggested ‘Warrior’ remain given its ties to JBLM – would go a long ways toward achieving what, Zalaznick writes, is the purpose of this institution called education.
“Public schools are supposed to be sites where democracy is practiced and young people are learning democracy.
“District leaders need to support and encourage public engagement rather than see it as something to withdraw from—withdrawal is a losing strategy.
“Good public school leadership is about creating democratic moments throughout the school calendar.”
As education depends on information by which to make intelligent decisions, here following is a timeline that serves as a summary of how we got where we are.
1968 – The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), founded in 1944, launched a campaign to end negative and harmful stereotypes of Native Americans in the media and popular culture.
1993 – The Washington State Board of Education – though without statutory authority – adopted a resolution (and again in 2012), encouraging school districts to re-examine their policies and discontinue the use of Native American mascots.
2013 – From the NCAI report: “Rather than honoring Native peoples, these caricatures and stereotypes contribute to a disregard for the personhood of Native peoples.” (Papers entitled “Ending The Legacy of Racism In Sports & The Era Of Harmful ‘Indian’ Sports Mascots”, and “Of Warrior Chiefs and Indian Princesses: The Psychological Consequences of American Indian Mascots”)
2016 – Washington State Sen. John McCoy (D), a member of the Tulalip Tribe, introduced Senate Bill 6190 that – had it been successful – would outlaw the use of “Redskins” in public schools.
February 2021 – House Bill 1356 is introduced by Washington State Rep. Debra Lekanoff, who is Tlingit and Aleut and the only Native American currently serving in the Washington State Legislature. The democrat serves the 40th District, which includes San Juan and portions of Whatcom and Skagit counties.
July 20, 2021 – Clover Park School District (CPSD), having reached out to the Puyallup, Nisqually and Steilacoom Tribes, receives information from the Puyallup Tribe of Indians concerning House Bill 1356 which prohibits the inappropriate use of Native American mascots, names, symbols and imagery in Washington public schools. The Nisqually and Steilacoom tribes had also been contacted by CPSD. Rep. Lekanoff said tribal consultation is an integral part of the bill. “This little bill says reach across the table to the Native American and shake their hand. Get to know them, understand them, teach their culture in your school, invite them to the table and build a relationship. But treat them with the respect that they should be treated with.”
July 25, 2021 – House Bill 1356 took effect.
August 2021 – A spokesperson for Clover Park High School told McClatchy’s Northwest Indigenous Affairs reporter Natasha Brennan that the school was in the process of reviewing the bill’s requirements.
November 24, 2021 – Clover Park High School announced it’s in the process of changing its mascot to comply with HB1356.
Early December 2021 – Online survey begins for families and alumni of Clover Park High School, as well as the community, to share their input on the top mascot names the school is considering before making a final mascot selection in mid-December with changes in imagery, equipment, uniforms, signage, and material to follow.
December 13, 2021 – Clover Park School District Board Directors unanimously call for a pause in the process to allow for further deliberation with the likelihood of a special meeting to be scheduled.
December 31, 2021 – Were it not for the December 13, 2021, unanimous decision of the Clover Park School District Board of Directors, schools would have had until Dec. 31 to make their new selections of mascot name, signage, and related.
In addition to the links imbedded, source material for this article:
Natasha Brennan, covers Indigenous Affairs for Northwest McClatchy Newspapers.
Allison Needles, covers city and education news for The Tacoma News Tribune.
Thank you, Director Anderson and Director Wagemann for presenting this issue without emotion, but rather in the form of a cogent, contextually framed outline inviting public comment towards a holistically derived community-based solution on this highly charged abstraction.
Lest we forget, the objective is education. Children learn, not only from textbooks, but also from the actions and reactions they observe as “adults” conduct business on their behalf in public.
Putting the public back in public education one issue at a time. Let this be a example of how that is done early on in the life of this new Board. This, rather than baking the cake and asking the public to chose the color of the icing. After the forum, I’d also suggest the need for a “public hearing” on the matter which is different that just an agenda item on the subject at a regular meeting. Public hearings require public notification, date, time and subject and permit the public to give recorded testimony as opposed to 3 minutes of “public comment” during a regular meeting. That testimony should be critical to any subsequent decision the Board makes on this matter. Merry Christmas!
Once again, it only takes “one” to propose something that no alumni wants and who is to pay for the cost to make the change, whatever it is. It was ALWAYS a source of pride that we could say “we are the CP Warriors”. If it is changed, it is too bad; you didn’t listen to the people who graduated or graduates. I think it stinks.
Dress it up any way that you want, stopping the name change is a race issue, not a reference to anyone or anything that is located at Joint Base Lewis McChord. It is now and always will be associated with the indigenous people of this land. I still view this as a race related issue and not one of education. What does trying to hide or redirect the source of the name do to further education? Platitudes from those opposed to the name change are worthless for good governance. I would suppose that those against the name change, who are showing their white fragility, are happy that they are moved their point of view forward. I find it disheartening to see all of the work done already heading to the garbage can just to mollify those opposed to the need for acknowledgement of past insensitivity of our fathers..
“Platitudes from those opposed to the name change are worthless for good governance.” Really, Mr. Grimsey? The Lakewood and CPSD communities at large should have no say at all if they are opposed? Could not disagree more, as an open honest conversation is what will lead to the most widely accepted outcome.