JUNEAU, Alaska — — A pep club's “country” theme, for which some student fans dressed like cowboys for a basketball game against a school from Alaska’s only Indian reserve, wasn't intended to be “racially provocative,” but it had a negative effect that was “predictable and should have been prevented,” according to the findings from an investigation of the incident released Friday.
The report from the borough school board and district administration said the Ketchikan High School pep club has long planned themed outfits for home games as a way to show school spirit. For the “country” theme, students wore outfits that included cowboy hats and plaid shirts, leading to an “association with a ‘Cowboys vs. Indians’ theme” that was foreseeable and should have been prevented, the report says. “For this we must take accountability,” it said.
The report says the responsibility for what happened does not fall just on students, saying that they also"lacked adult guidance and adequate administrative oversight.”“We acknowledge that our actions were not sensitive nor displayed empathy and understanding of the historical and ongoing hardships of our Native community members,” the report says.The report said the incident also hurt Ketchikan students and community members.
The district plans to consult with the First Alaskans Institute on a plan for training and professional development related to “racial equity and healing,” the report says.
Education Education Latest News, Education Education Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: AKpublicnews - 🏆 387. / 55 Read more »