Ban on schools’ Native mascots is long overdue

The order from the state Department of Education banning the use of Native mascots is the right call.

This ban was ordered more than 20 years ago.

Then-education Commissioner Richard Mills told schools to take measures to eliminate Native mascots. It wasn’t a suggestion; they were told to do it. He did leave it up to local authorities to develop a plan and their own timeframe to retire the offensive nicknames and imagery.

The timeline was what he left up to school administrators. He did not leave it up to them to decide whether to continue use of such a mascot.

Further, it wasn’t Mills or current Education Commissioner Betty Rosa who deemed Native mascots offensive; it was child care professionals, along with every Native nation and organization that weighed in.

Use of such mascots is offensive. This is not political correctness or “cancel culture.” Native people called for this change, and it has taken a long time to be heard.

Shame on any of the schools that decided to ignore Mills and double down on their mascot use. Cambridge Central School, which lies at the center of this recent action, is one of those. For Cambridge or any other school to now whine about the expense is absurd. Mills and the Education Department gave them ample time. Shame on any politician seeing this issue as political fodder.

Rosa and Deputy Commissioner James Baldwin should be thanked for putting education and kids first.

John Kane Cattaraugus Territory of the Seneca Nation via Perrysburg The writer is a Mohawk and a 1978 graduate of Cambridge Central School.