A school in Maryland has instituted a policy that will ban students and faculty from wearing Washington Redskins gear because they believe the team’s nickname is offensive.
Bethesda Beat’s Bethany Rodgers reported on Monday that Green Acres School, a private school in Bethesda that runs up to eighth grade, implemented the policy a few days ago. The school’s president sent out a letter to all the school’s family announcing the change. In his letter, school president Neal Brown said the term “redskins” is a racial slur. He also said the NFL team’s logo can be viewed as racially demeaning.
Brown said the change came about after different student levels held discussions about Native Americans and their representation in sports logos.
The head of the North Bethesda school that just banned Redskins clothes posted a lengthy explanation on the school's site pic.twitter.com/8KSajsJjA1
— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) August 29, 2017
“We want to approach this with children in a very age-appropriate and sensitive way. We’re in no way trying to vilify anyone for rooting for the local football team because, in truth, I root for the local football team,” Brown told Bethesda Magazine.
Students wearing Redskins gear could be asked to cover up their gear with a school T-shirt, while others may get a phone call home to their parents to remind them of the policy.
The Redskins’ nickname and logo has long been viewed as offensive, and there were movements — and legal actions —
the past few years to try and have it changed. Team owner Daniel Snyder has long insisted he will not change the team’s nickname.
