BOHEMIA, N.Y. (AP) \u2014 A New York school district is \u201cerasing its Native American heritage\u201d and violating civil rights law by changing its team name from the \u201cThunderbirds\u201d to the \u201cT-Birds,\u201d federal education officials say. The U.S. Department of Education said Thursday that the Connetquot Central School District can voluntarily resolve the federal law violation by restoring the \u201crightful\u201d Thunderbirds\u2019 name. The Long Island district, like others in the state, changed its team name in order to comply with state regulations banning Native American sports names and mascots. But federal education officials argue the state mandate violates civil rights law because it allows schools to continue using names derived from other racial or ethnic groups, such as the \u201cDutchmen\u201d and \u201cHuguenots.\u201d \u201cWe will not allow ideologues to decide that some… <\/p>\n
BOHEMIA, N.Y. (AP) \u2014 A New York school district is \u201cerasing its Native American heritage\u201d and violating civil rights law by changing its team name from the \u201cThunderbirds\u201d to the \u201cT-Birds,\u201d federal education officials say. The U.S. Department of Education said Thursday that the Connetquot Central School District can voluntarily resolve the federal law violation by restoring the \u201crightful\u201d Thunderbirds\u2019 name. The Long Island district, like others in the state, changed its team name in order to comply with state regulations banning Native American sports names and mascots. But federal education officials argue the state mandate violates civil rights law because it allows schools to continue using names derived from other racial or ethnic groups, such as the \u201cDutchmen\u201d and \u201cHuguenots.\u201d \u201cWe will not allow ideologues to decide that some... <\/p>\n