Description
The Walpole School Committee voted Unanimously to End the Rebel Mascot on the evening of June 18, 2020.
PENDING DUE TO NO NEW MASCOT AND REBEL STILL BEING USED
Walpole High School is a public high school in Walpole, Massachusetts, United States, educating grades 9 through 12. It is a part of Walpole Public Schools. It was founded in 1870; the current building was originally built in 1907 and underwent a major renovation/addition in 2000-2002 thereby adding many new classrooms, labs, a new library and cafeteria as well as a general modernization of the interior. The campus is located one mile from downtown Walpole on Common Street.
”The name was given to Walpole’s teams in the late 1960s by Coach John Lee — known as “General Lee” — who was brought to the school from Memphis to reshape the then-struggling athletic teams. The name triggered decades of fans singing “Dixie” in the stands and waving Confederate flags. Despite the school removing Confederate flags from the uniforms in the 1980s and barring the flag in the mid ‘90s, the school kept the “Rebels” name.”
Barry Greener started as a coach at Walpole High School in 1972 and went on to become head football coach. He now coaches part-time and still remembers Confederate flags on the sleeves of some of the school uniforms.
“When there were Confederate flags at the game, and it was part of the high school, there was no intentional racism, but perception is reality,” Greener said. “People that come in, whether they are fans from the town or fans from other teams, perception is reality. If it's offensive to them, it's gotta go. So if 'Rebels' goes bye-bye — we just move on.”
Superintendent Dr. Bridget Gough, a Walpole native, reflected on her own experience, and why the school needed to change.
“As a student athlete, I proudly wore the red and blue uniform,” said Gough during the committee meeting. “The band played ‘Dixie,’ and the Confederate flag waved. As a child, like many of our youth and students today, I did not think there was anything wrong with our mascot. As the years passed, some things changed. ‘Dixie’ no longer played at football games, soon followed by the banning of the Confederate flag. And the colors changed to blue and orange. However, the Rebel name remained, and continued to face controversy. It is time. Time for a change. Time for a progression to reach its conclusion. Time for this name to be laid to rest. As leaders, we know better, and therefore, we must do better.
“No matter the intent, the Rebel name will forever be linked to the Confederacy and racism,” said Gough. “We must take into account the association that weighs down this word. No amount of rebranding will change that. A mascot is something that should bring a community together, not tear it apart.”