CHANGE THE BCHS MASCOT

Many other schools around the country are currently moving to remove and replace their Rebel mascot. Here is a selection of stories about those who have been successful in effecting change:

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The entire Jefferson County Public School system said that there will be an evaluation process for the names and mascots of the district's schools to ensure that none "marginalize students of color [, …using] the district's racial equity analysis protocol." The superintendent and members of its board of education are behind this push to improve racial equity in JCPS schools.

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Hays High School in Buda, Texas announced this month they would be retiring their Rebel mascot and hope to implement a new one for the 21-22 school year. The administered an online survey to students who will be in grades 9 to 12 during the 20-21 academic year, as well as teachers and staff. The story also mentions a community petition, and in their case, the board approved the change.

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This month Juanita High School in Kirkland, Wash. also decided to do away with the Rebel mascot because it didn’t meet criteria outlined in administrative policy. The process started two years ago with a petition, but after a vote by the student body proved divisive, superintendent Jon Holmen determined that the decision should be an administrative one. The committee to name a new mascot is composed of students, staff, parents and school administrators.

Quartz Hills High School in Quartz Hills, Calif. announced that they would ‘drop the Rebel mascot’ in mid-June of this year, after a similar petition started by an alumna. They announced that school would discontinue use of the mascot “effective immediately” and are working with students and staff to select a new mascot. Another article indicates that the principle met with alumni who had been members of the school’s Black Student Union as part of the process.

In June of 2019, Godfrey-Lee public school in Wyoming, Mich. announced that they would change their mascot from the ‘Rebels’ to the ‘Legends’. The process began in February of 2019 and the new mascot is being implemented this August. Here is what their Facebook page says about the process: “The vote was the culmination of a human-centered design process that began in February 2019 and included stakeholder feedback resulting in almost 200 unique name submissions. These were narrowed by a representative committee consisting of staff, parents, community members, and Board of Education Members to ten names that aligned with the district's vision and strategic design. Students in grades 8-11 were then offered the opportunity to vote on the ten to narrow the options to two names. The top two from this process were "Legends" and "Raptors," with Legends being preferred by a large margin. Board members noted that the new name aligns with the district's values expressed in "Be You. Be Connected. Be Brilliant!" Artwork and designs submitted by students and community members for mascot development were presented at the meeting.”

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Roncalli High School, a private school in Indianapolis, announced recently that they will be changing their mascot, the Rebel, to avoid ‘negative connotations and association with the American Confederacy.’ In this case it seems that interim president Father Robert Robeson made the decision unilaterally and is now convening a task force to select a new mascot.

Fairfax High School in Fairfax, VA changed the name of their mascot to remove the tie to the Confederacy. The Principal Erin Lenart wrote a letter to the school community explaining that the change reflects “inclusivity, family, belongingness, respect, and integrity.” The City of Fairfax and other Fairfax County Public School leaders began the work to change the mascot last September.