Conrad Schools of Science

Conrad Schools are part of the Diamond State Athletic Conference.{{cite web |title=Conrad clinches Diamond State Championship

|last=Stevens|first=Chris|url=https://www.delawareonline.com/story/sports/high-school/2016/05/10/conrad-vs-dma-baseball/84172638/|website=Delaware Online|date=2016-05-10|access-date=2021-07-09}}

In 2015, after her complaints about the atmosphere of discrimination toward people of color that existed in the school, a high school senior named Deja'rene Harris (class of 2015) was tasked with forming a committee to address these issues. The name given to the group was the Diversity Committee. When the weekly meeting notes were discovered by the Alumni Association of Conrad Schools of Science, many were shocked to see that there were talks about the appropriateness of using the "Redskins" mascot - one that had been used already for 80 years of the school's history. The Diversity Committee noted that this mascot was seen as offensive{{cite news| url=http://www.delawareonline.com/story/sports/high-school/2015/03/19/conrad-taking-steps-drop-redskins-name-mascot/25019071/| title=Conrad considers dropping Redskins nickname| author=Brad Myers| date=March 20, 2015| publisher=Delaware Online: The News Journal}} and was another one of the many indicators of the school's difficult relationship with communities of color.

These comments sparked outrage within the Alumni Association at the perceived insults to their beloved mascot. At the request of the school's administrators including the then-principal Mark Pruitt and then-vice principal Andy Vincent, the Diversity Committee began hosting meetings with the Alumni Association regarding these issues. Members of the committee, including Dejarene Harris, Lisa Holden ('15) and Yasmine Allen ('15) with the company of other teachers and parents, broke off into a new group called the Retire the Mascot Committee.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

The Retire the Mascot Committee's mission statement centered on "[promoting] a cultural understanding for the retirement of our current Conrad Schools of Science mascot and [to] select a yet to be named, new mascot, that will proudly represent our school, our community, and our history".{{cite web| url=http://www.edline.net/files/_BaBCX_/b9e0cb591fc0dccd3745a49013852ec4/Retire_the_mascot_document.pdf| title=Retire the mascot document| access-date=March 23, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923233715/http://www.edline.net/files/_BaBCX_/b9e0cb591fc0dccd3745a49013852ec4/Retire_the_mascot_document.pdf|archive-date=2015-09-23}} The group, led by the aforementioned 3 young women, held weekly meetings with the Alumni Association with each group taking and defending their stance - The Alumni Committee voting to keep the "Redskin" mascot and the Retire the Mascot Committee, of course, fighting to abolish it.

The meetings garnered far more attention than expected, gaining support on both sides from students, teachers, area locals, various news outlets, and native groups.{{Cite web|last=WPVI|date=2015-04-15|title=Long-standing mascot at Wilmington school sparks controversy|url=https://6abc.com/conrad-schools-of-science-high-school-mascot-controversy/662444/|access-date=2022-02-03|website=6abc Philadelphia|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Bies|first=Jessica|title=Conrad Redskins now the Red Wolves|url=https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/education/2017/02/08/conrad-redskins-now-red-wolves/97645948/|access-date=2022-02-03|website=The News Journal|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Red Wolves was the solution for another team with Washington's name problem|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/redskins/red-wolves-was-solution-another-team-washingtons-name-problem|access-date=2022-02-03|website=RSN|language=en}} The issue was never resolved within the school and the students that led the movement graduated in Spring of 2015, putting an end to the meetings, but not to the discussion. In June 2016, the issue was put to a vote by the Red Clay School Board who voted 4–2 in favor of the change. In early 2017, the public voted overwhelmingly for its replacement to be the Red Wolves.{{cite news| url=http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/education/2016/06/15/conrad-sheds-redskins-name/85952302/| title=Conrad Schools of Science sheds Redskins name| author=Saranac Hale Spencer| date=June 16, 2016}}{{cite web |title=Conrad Students Pick Red Wolves as New Mascot|url=https://www.redclayschools.com/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=136&ModuleInstanceID=1020&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=8449&PageID=343|website=Red Clay Consolidated School District|date=2017|access-date=2021-07-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709225819/https://www.redclayschools.com/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=136&ModuleInstanceID=1020&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=8449&PageID=343|archive-date=2021-07-09}}

Although the disagreement was resolved officially with the vote, the new Red Wolves mascot was adopted with enthusiasm by the student body and staff at the time of the change, and the school has been heavily redecorated with the new mascot - the issue is still a sensitive matter to some. Many members of the Alumni Association still choose to use the old headdress or 'Indian chief' logo of the school{{Cite web|last=alumni|first=conrad|title=ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MEETINGS ARE HELD THE THIRD MONDAY OF EACH MONTH.|url=https://conradalumni.com/|access-date=2022-02-03|website=H.C.Conrad Alumni Association Inc.|language=en-US}} and others have started a movement called "Redskins Forever"{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/savrcnrdredskin|access-date=2022-02-03|website=Twitter|language=en}} - whose bumper stickers, hoodies, and other paraphernalia can be seen around the surrounding area.

{{alumni|date=November 2022}}

• Dallas Green (class of 1952), late MLB player, manager, scout, and executive
• Celia Kaye (class of 1959), actress
• David McBride (class of 1960), President pro tempore and member of the Delaware Senate

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.redclayschools.com/conrad}}

{{Education in New Castle County, Delaware}}

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Category:High schools in New Castle County, Delaware

Category:Public high schools in Delaware

Category:1935 establishments in Delaware

Category:Educational institutions established in 1935

Category:Red Clay Consolidated School District