FARMINGTON — After more than a quarter century of debate, Farmington High School’s Indian mascot was put into retirement Monday night.
The school board unanimously decided to scrap the symbol based on critics’ complaints that it is insulting to Native American youth and can contribute to a hostile environment for all students of color.
Farmington is following a statewide trend away from ethnic team names such as Indians, with towns concluding that what seemed inoffensive in the ‘40s or ‘70s has taken on a different tone now. Manchester High School dropped its team name of Indians last year, and Guilford High School did the same this summer.