Shrewsbury to conserve the Colonials name and mascot for good

After several months of discussions, analysis, and resources wasted, the Shrewsbury public school district decided to keep the Shrewsbury High School’s “Colonials” name and mascot.

The issue began one year ago when a resident started an online petition to “change the Shrewsbury High School Mascot to something that’s not racially insensitive,” arguing that the “school must consider the Shrewsbury Colonials sounds a lot like the white supremacists.” The petition, which raised about 1,200 “signatures,” was countered by another resident who created a petition to “Keep Shrewsbury High School Mascot The Colonial,” asking for help to “protect our (Colonials) mascot and tradition from this political correctness gone too far.”

The petition to keep the Colonials raised more than 4,000 “signatures” and finally got the attention of the School Committee that created an Ad Hoc Study Committee to resolve what to do with the issue.

The Mascot Ad Hoc Study Committee was integrated by 8 members selected from 134 applicants that represented students, staff, alumni, and parents. The purpose of the Ad Hoc study group was to investigate the origins of the Colonials mascot; learn about the mascot historical context; solicit and consider viewpoints regarding how the mascot is perceived currently as a representation of the school community; share its findings with the community; make a recommendation to the School Committee regarding whether to maintain or change the mascot.

Based on the findings of the Ad Hoc study group, on June 23 the School Committee decided by a 3-2 vote to “decline to take any action to change the Shrewsbury High School Colonials name and mascot,” announced Joseph M. Sawyer, the Superintendent of public schools.

In a message to the community, Superintendent Sawyer emphasized that the “school district must continue to approach this topic by modeling civil discourse and promoting empathy for different points of view.”

“I am hopeful that strong disagreements will not lead to unnecessary and damaging divisions,” stated Superintendent Sawyer.