Here. An excerpt:
Senators also heard testimony in favor of the bill from the Confederated Tribe of Siletz Indians. The Siletz Warrior mascot at the tribe’s charter school violates the current rule, but the bill would allow the tribe to keep it in place.
“A lot of the issue is we need Oregon-based curriculum in our schools,” said Robert Kentta, a member of the Siletz tribal council speaking in support of the bill. “Taking away mention of Indians in schools is not an approach that we think is productive toward that goal.”
Samuel Henry, chairman of the Oregon Board of Education, said the state needs to improve its Native American curriculum but he said the board fully vetted their ban.
Native American mascots provide no educational benefit, Henry said, and open the state up to potential lawsuits challenging the mascots.
“One question for state legislators is: Do you want to buy more kindergarten teachers or do you want to pay for attorney’s fees and staff time?” Henry said. “It’s that simple.”
Turtle Talk 