Wayne City Meets PC Culture

Myron Caudle, the superintendent of Wayne City Schools, learned yesterday morning that his school’s Indian mascot was under attack from members of the Illinois Legislature.

Caudle thinks there would be some real push-back from the community if the state tries to oust the mascot much like the NCAA threw out Illiniwek from Caudle’s alma mater, the University of Illinois.

Two northern Illinois State Representatives are co-sponsoring a bill which directly attacks all schools in the state which use Native American images or mascots. It was moved to committee this week for review.

Here’s what it says. If passed, Wayne City Schools would have to get expressed written consent from a Native American tribe within 500 miles. There doesn’t appear to be a functioning tribe in Wayne County or Illinois, for that matter. You’d probably have to drive to Oklahoma.

Wayne City would also need to teach a Native American curriculum, and everything would have to be approved by the state and then renewed every five years including the tribe’s blessing.

Wayne City teams have been known as the Indians for 90 years. But political correctness could change all that.

I believe this is a Wayne City matter….not one to be mandated by Springfield.