M-PHS, Totem to change mascots

Marysville-Pilchuck High School and Totem Middle School will change mascots in the coming year to discontinue the use of Native American symbols.

The Washington state legislature passed House Bill 1356 this year which prohibits the use of Native American symbols or images for public schools.

The bill passed overwhelmingly with a 40-9 vote in the Washington State Senate and a 90-8 vote in the Washington State House of Representatives.

The law gives districts until Dec. 31 of this year to choose new mascots.

In Marysville, the symbols that must be removed are the tomahawk used by M-PHS and the thunderbird used by Totem Middle School.

School districts can receive approval from nearby tribes to continue use of those mascots, but the Tulalip Tribes have asked the district to cease using those symbols.

“The psychology really shows there’s no benefit to having these mascots,” said Stephanie Fryberg, a Tulalip Tribal member and doctor of psychology. “The research has shown very clearly that these mascots harm Native students and also non-Native students."

Fryberg has done studies around Native mascots herself and added there were dozens of other research papers from other scientists showing similar effects.

She said that in surveys and studies involving Native mascots, Native students experience “a decrease in self-esteem and feelings of community worth and an increase in depression and suicidal ideation.”

Similar research shows that mascots can affect how Native students are perceived.

“There is an increase in views that Native students are primitive and savages,” said Fryberg. “It shows a decrease in the perception of the potential of Native students, as well."

Fryberg described the decision to pass HB 1356 this year as a step forward for local schools and hoped that other states would follow suit.

“We want everyone to have equal access to a quality education and these mascots are a barrier to that,” she said.

The Marysville School District is planning to take public input for the new school mascots later this year.

“We’re very early in the process. The only thing I can say right now is that we’re interviewing our external consultants to see who would be the best fit to facilitate,” said Chris Pearson, acting superintendent for the Marysville School District.

He expects the planning to begin in earnest sometime in August or September.

At that time the process will include working with parents and community members to choose new mascots for the schools, Pearson said.

“It will be a community decision through a process with committees. Those committees will eventually make a recommendation to the board,” he said.

Changing mascots will involve many new purchases for the district, including new uniforms, school signs, gym floors, letterhead, office supplies and websites.

“We anticipate a pretty significant cost,” said Pearson.

The Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction has set aside funds to help schools pay for a portion of the changes.

“Those are funds that will be shared across the state for every school going through this process,” said Pearson.

The initial deadlines for those funds are approaching very soon, but Pearson hopes that the state office will push those back as many districts said they will not be able to make a decision that soon.

“Even with that money though, we’ll be paying the majority of the costs,” said Pearson.

Districts need to have a new mascot chosen by the end of the year, but they do not need to make all of the purchases at that time.

“There’s a staggered schedule to implement those changes,” said Pearson.

During that time the district is not allowed to produce yearbooks or purchase signs with the old Native American symbols, but they are allowed to replace a limited number of uniforms.