WICHITA NORTH HIGH SCHOOL & RELIGION

WICHITA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, USD 259, KANSAS

Do permanent religious symbols belong in places of worship and in public schools? Where are the non-Indian religious symbols?

To a Christian the cross is a religious symbol. It is displayed at a place of worship.
	To a Native American the eagle feather is a religious symbol (16 U.S.C. 668A). It is displayed at North High School, Wichita, Kansas.
Wichita North High School and USD 259 have established permanent Native American religious symbols in the school system.

Here is what federal and local law says:

"The temporary use of religious symbols such as a cross, Menorah, crescent, star of David, creche, symbols of Native American religion, or other symbols that are a part of the religious holiday are permitted as teaching aids if they are displayed as an example of a holiday's cultural and religious heritage"-Wichita Public Schools, First amendment religious freedom policy #P1501; also, Kansas Association of School Boards, policy recommendations, p23 of "Religion in Kansas Schools".

Why are we are looking at a permanent holiday on Native American religion in the public schools? Is it because Native American religion has been never recognized in a country that claims to be founded on religious freedom?

If you are concerned that religious symbols are being abused it is your responsibility to speak out about it. Right now you can go to petition for equal treatment of religious symbolsin Wichita Public Schools"

Kansas Association of School Boards, Guidelines for Kansas

"The regular display of religious symbols, portraits and other representation of religion in the school or in classrooms is unlawful." "The Role of Religion in Kansas Schools", p.13

THE FEDERAL LAW

"Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...", First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.

THE PROBLEM

Christians cannot paint The Cross on school walls or pray before class and out loud at school sponsored functions like the Indians do with their religious symbols. Parents cannot go into the schools and talk about Christian Values like the Indian advisors can. Indians even have their own paid counselors when Christians cannot.

The principal of North High acknowledges that the school's whole identity is around the Indian culture. He makes the claim on their web site that the Indian people indirectly founded North High School. The teacher and parent Site Council said there should be more Indian Advisors at this school.

DOES WICHITA NORTH HIGH SCHOOL TEACH THE TRUE HISTORY OF NATIVE AMERICANS KILLED FOR THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS?
How many teachers will teach the meaning of the eagle feather?
How many can tell you about 300 children, women and men killed because of their religion in this country?

Public School Indian
Mental Health Counseling
or Child Abuse?

"Redskin-it is the color of our skin. We grew up with this. We are proud to be a part of this school and we are proud to be redskins."

-Wichita Public Schools salaried Indian counselor, 1996

"... every redskin must be killed from off the face of the plains before we can be free from their molestations. They are of no earthly good and the sooner they are swept from the land the better for civilization"

-Major John Vance Lauderdale, US Army, 1866
attending surgeon Wounded Knee Massacre 1890

Does North High teach this meaning of the redskin name?

The frozen body of Chief Big Foot of the Sioux lay for 4 days in the wasteland. He was killed for his religious beliefs and his ethnic heritage. The religious symbols of his people were stripped from their bodies and held as trophies and curios. Tiny moccasins were taken from the feet of dead children and sent home as souvenirs. IS THERE HONOR IN MAKING THESE DEAD SIOUX INTO MASCOTS?

How close to death are any people who welcome the stereotypes of racial hatred given to them by those who hunted down and killed their name sakes for their unique religious beliefs?

Two corpses in the snow, Wounded Knee Massacre

THIRTY SIX YEARS LATER THESE DEAD ARE MADE MASCOTS AT WICHITA NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

While many African Americans grew up being called the "N" word some have the common sense to fight back when they and their children are named by the words of racial hatred shown in slavery, lynchings, and destruction of African families that racism has forced upon them.
On the other hand some Indians are glad for any bone thrown their way playing their version of "INDIAN HAM BONE" to entertain the curious and the powerful. Pretenders enjoy claiming pride in Sioux religious symbols in the schools no matter how those religious symbols are treated.

Knowing nothing of their own religious heritage the ignorant attach to the symbols of the Sioux and encourage the same behavior in others. There are 35 Indian students at North High School whose Indian pedigree is documented like show dogs. In 1996, 33 students with the encouragement of their Indian counselor, signed a paper in support of keeping Indian religious symbols in the school.
They have remained.

Are North High students being used as pawns for racism?

HAVE THE STUDENTS AT NORTH HIGH SCHOOL BEEN TOLD OF THE MASSACRE AT WOUNDED KNEE, 1890?
Over 200 children and women were slaughtered along with more than 100 unarmed men, they were shot for the color of their skin and for their religious beliefs?

IN A PRIVATE LETTER THE COMMANDING OFFICER SAID THIS:

"Wholesale massacre occurred and I have never heard of a more brutal, cold-blooded massacre than that at
Wounded Knee. About two hundred women and children were killed and wounded; women with little children
on their backs, and small children powder burned by the men who killed them being so near as to burn the flesh and clothing with the powder of their guns, and nursing babes with five bullet holes through them....Col. Forsyth is responsible for allowing the command to remain where it was stationed after he assumed command, and in allowing his troops to be in such a position that the line of fire of every troop was in direct line of their own of their own comrades or their camp"- [ Nelson A. Miles to George W. Baird, November 20, 1891, Baird Collection, WA-S901, M596, Western Americana Collection, The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.]

The killers were given 20
MEDALS OF HONOR

We demand these medals be rescinded NOW!

Have they been told of 4,000 Cherokee who died on the Trail of Tears when driven like cattle to Oklahoma Indian Territories?

Have they been told of the Massacres at
Sand Creek and the
Washita River?

DO THEY KNOW HOW A PROFESSIONAL ARMY WAS PAID TO DECIMATE A PEOPLE AND SCHOOLS WERE GIVEN THE TASK OF ASSIMILATING THE CHILDREN OF THE SURVIVORS?

WHERE IS THE HONOR IN KILLING INNOCENT CHILDREN AND MAKING THEM INTO MASCOTS?

When will the truth replace
sugar cookie Indian history lessons
in the public schools?

No human being should be used as a mascot because it infringes on their cultural and religious identity. By promoting stereotypes mascots are the basis for racism.

PERMANENT INDIAN RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL

BUT...

Permanent Christian religious symbols are told to keep out!

Is this equal treatment or protection under the law?

Why would public schools teach the children to deny the spiritual beliefs of any family in their community? Why would they break their own laws by permanently using some and ignoring others? Why would they dishonor their own families by turning away the hearts of another? Why do the mistakes of the past keep prejudice, disrespect and inequality in public schools? When will schools teach respect for the religious symbols of the students and families in their own communities?

"ONCE A REDSKIN, ALWAYS A REDSKIN" The pride of ethnic hatred Wichita North High School, GENOCIDE AND THE SHAME OF PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION

Go to the first PAGE ON NORTH HIGH SCHOOL USD 259 RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS.

Introduction of IRON WING'S CHILDREN, and their story, "Teachings of the Children"

If you are concerned that religious symbols are being abused it is your responsibility to speak out about it. Right now you can go to petition for equal treatment of religious symbolsin Wichita Public Schools"

To send a letter to the Wichita Public Schools Board of Education send it care of: EMRC - Clerk of the Board - Arlene R. Moore clerk@feist.com, Clerk of the Board of Education, 833-4053

To write to the Superintendent of Schools Education Management and Resource Center * 201 N. Water * Wichita, KS 67202 , or phone 316 833-4003 Communications.

For more information from the Kansas Association of School Boards- and for information on obtaining the brochure, "Religion in the Public Schools", e-mail The Kansas Association of School Boards or call KASB at 1-800-432-2471 or write 1420 SW Arrowhead Road., Topeka, KS 66604-4024. Their web page contains general organizational material

This page is copyright by Clem Iron Wing 1995, revised for the world wide web 1997 by Clem Iron Wing, Randy Jones, Matthew Richter.