Small Town Iowa School District Won't Change Macot's Name

A small-town Iowa school district is resisting calls to change the name of its mascot, even though some believe that the name is derogatory.

The school district in question is the Estherville Lincoln Central School District. CBS2 reports that they have been using the term 'Midgets and Midgettes' for nearly a century. Members of a group called the Mascots Matter Campaign recently reached out to the school district to see if they would drop the name, a derogatory term for someone who has dwarfism. The group stated that not only is the name offensive, but it could also be illegal, violating federal laws meant to protect people with disabilities according to CBS2.

The school district's only response was that they are proud of the name and don't have plans to change it. The district stated that there is a "sense of pride in the Mighty Midget because of what we believe the mascot represents." CBS2 reports that the school district also stated that they would never have a mascot that would demean the students or the community, and then noted that they do not have a "contingency of little people."

School mascots and names are being changed frequently. I live in a district that went through such a change several years ago. They can be emotionally charged conversations. My problem with using the word 'Midget' is that the term isn't the correct one to use when talking about people with dwarfism. The school district didn't even use the word in its own statement! Why teach kids that using that word is ok?