Houston school board to vote on Native American mascots, 'Redskins' - chicagotribune.com: HOUSTON (Reuters) - The Houston school board will vote on Thursday whether to stop using mascot names such as "Redskins" that reference Native American culture and have been called offensive by advocacy groups.
The Houston Independent School District (HISD) is one of the largest in the United States and its decision could influence other school systems that are reconsidering mascot names which may be inappropriate.
The use of ethnic team names and mascots came under new scrutiny this year with a campaign to pressure the National Football League's Washington Redskins to change their name.
Native Americans and others have long derided the Redskins moniker as racist.
