The Abridged version:
- Garrett Kirkland, principal of Hiram Johnson High School, publicly apologized after his comments in support of his school’s warrior mascot set off a firestorm of criticism.
- Students in the district have spearheaded a movement to remove the Native American mascot and imagery they say is racist and offensive from the South Sacramento campus.
- The school board was overwhelmingly supportive of the removal efforts and called last month for that process to begin. California law mandates public schools remove Native American mascots by July.
Hiram Johnson High School principal Garrett Kirkland apologized for his recent statements in support of the school’s controversial mascot.
“I never intended to become part of a public conflict, when we have so much to do in this district,” Kirkland said Thursday at a Sacramento City Unified School District meeting.
“I understand that my comments clearly came across as a protest,” he added. “I’m sorry for how that looked, and I’m sorry for how that felt.”
A story by The Sacramento Bee earlier this month featured Kirkland standing in front of a mural in the school gym, which portrays a Native American man in a headdress.
“I don’t see anything offensive when I see this,” Kirkland told The Bee.
His interview conflicted with student-led efforts to remove the imagery seen as racist and offensive. And it set off a firestorm of criticism, including from school board members.
Student efforts pay off
Lozen Miranda-Brightman, a junior at a different high school within the district, has been the leading voice to remove the warrior mascot.
School board members were receptive last month and called for the district to begin the process of changing the South Sacramento school emblem.
“If you’re not Native American, I actually don’t care what your opinion is on Native imagery and use of mascots,” Trustee Jasjit Singh said during a late-April meeting.
California public schools, under Assembly Bill 3074, are also required to eliminate any Native American mascots by July.
Pushback on principal’s statements
Multiple speakers, including fellow students, took to the podium in support of Miranda-Brightman while condemning Kirkland’s comments.
“Administrators normalizing harmful environments and promoting them is absolutely abhorrent,” said Owen Naqica, a junior at West Campus High School. “What Lozen has faced, again, is disgraceful.”
Trustee Taylor Kayatta said he asked the district superintendent to explore potential penalties for speaking with the press on school grounds during the school day.
“I believe that Principal Kirkland has misused his position as a principal in our district and should face disciplinary action,” Kayatta wrote on Facebook. Kayatta later edited his post to remove the mention of potential discipline.
‘Pride in our campus should be acknowledged’
Kirkland, who is also president of the district’s union for administrators, said his comments were not meant to cause harm but rather were a call to include members of his school in the mascot change process.
“While I strive to be considerate of all people, my first priority is representing the students and community of Hiram Johnson High School,” he said. “They should be involved in this process. Their pride in our campus should be acknowledged. And the fact that they haven’t been … is an oversight that I was addressing.”
Kirkland was the first member of the public to speak at Thursday’s meeting. He left the room immediately after making his comments.
Savannah Kuchar is a reporter covering education. She came to Sacramento to be a part of the Abridged team and contribute to a crucial local news source.