Despite pressure from Native American representatives to switch mascots in the interest of cultural sensitivity, the Apache will remain as Arcadia High School's mascot, student and school leaders decided.
Assembly bill AB858, also known as the Jerry Ballesteros Act, is now going to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. It is a bill introduced by Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg (D-Los Angeles), calling for a ban on the use of Native American tribal names, specifically Apaches and Comanches, as school mascots. The Arcadia Board of Education opposes the bill. Arcadia leaders say the use of the name Apaches is a gesture of respect. Arcadia High School has a close relationship with the White Mountain Apache tribe, which supports the use of the name. This year's bill is different, in that last year's bill left a small loophole if the name is used respectfully.
Council opposes tribal mascot bill. Arcadia city council voted to oppose AB 2115 or any other legislation that would block Arcadia High School from using the Apache name and mascot.
Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg (D-Los Angeles) has reintroduced her bill to ban the use of Native American names for school mascots. The bill was defeated in the last session, with opposition from the city of Arcadia and the Arcadia Unified School District. The act lists only two tribal names as specifically banned - Apaches and Comanches -- along with terms such as Redskins, Chiefs, Braves and Papooses. Under AB858, the only schools exempted from the ban are those under the regulation of tribal councils.
Board wants to keep Apache name. The Arcadia Board of Education voted unanimously to oppose AB 2115, a bill that would forbid Arcadia High School from using the Apache mascot.
Arcadia High School among 2019’s best public high schools in the nation, according to Niche.com.It is also in the top 1 percent of best public high schools in the state of California and in the Los Angeles area. AHS stands out in STEM and college prep.
Arcadia Apaches name use is challenged. Sonny Skyhawk challenged The Arcadia School Board to drop the Apache Native American mascot for Arcadia High School.
The top ten San Gabriel Valley high school baseball teams will compete in the Arcadia Elks Tournament starting tomorrow. The top ten includes teams from Arcadia High School, Alhambra High School, Monrovia High School, Maranatha High School, St. Francis High School, Temple City High School, Gabrielino High School, San Marino High School, South Pasadena High School, and La Canada High School. Pictured are Arcadia High School pitcher/short stop Garrett Tuck, first baseman Tim Smoley, and pitcher Bryce Rutherford.
The Arcadia High School advanced placement government class defeated 13 other state teams in the "We the People" Bill of Rights and Constitution competition in Sacramento. The 29 member team will represent California in the national competition May 1-3 in Washington, D.C.
Arcadia High School's Student Executive council convened behind closed doors last week to cast its vote on whether the Apache mascot is insulting to American Indians or is a tradition which should remain at the school. They present their vote to the School Board on Tuesday.
More than a mascot. Schools: When a Native American group urged Arcadia High to stop using the Apache as a symbol, officials made it an educational issue to be studied--and decided by--the Student Council. Members of the Arcadia High School Student Council are scheduled today to recommend whether to keep their school mascot, the Apache warrior which has been used for 45 years.
Arcadia High School Principal Martin Plourde's attempts at racial sensitivity over the school's use of an Apache mascot have not only left the mascot question unsettled, they have also incensed Los Angeles' Native American community.
Arcadia Unified School District continues decades-long advocacy for fair funding from the state. A dozen delegates from Arcadia went to Sacramento for the California State Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) Legislation Conference, where they discussed key issues in public education, such as funding for mental health resources and arts programs, continued budget cuts and more. Arcadia High School student delegates Isaac Offstein, Joya Sarkar and Chloe Wong, met with State Senator Susan Rubio (D-49), State Senator Anthony Portantio (D-25) and Assemblyman Mike Fong (AD-49).
Arcadia High students are collecting toiletries and other items to aid members of the White Mountain Apache Tribe who were displaced by a massive wildfire. They have formed the "Apache to Apache" drive. Because the high school mascot is the Apache, students have developed a close relationship with the Native Americans who live on a reservation in Arizona.
A member of the White Mountain Apache Tribal Council in Arizona said Friday the Council still accepts the use of the "Apache" nickname by Arcadia High School, despite a local Native American activist's request to condemn it.