In what she describes an exchange of empathy, Wiscasset high school educator and student council advisor Deb Pooler has organized a cultural exchange with students of the Passamaquoddy Native American tribe at Pleasant Point Nov 6. Wiscasset and Passamaquoddy students will take part in an experiential learning program designed to teach young people methods of non-violence and conflict resolution. While the trip does relate to the ongoing debate over the current Wiscasset High School mascot, Pooler is careful to note that the exchange isn’t meant as a political endeavor.
“This is not an endorsement but really a way to have our kids interact in a meaningful, non threatening way with members of the Passamaquoddy tribe,” she said.
In an RSU 12 school board meeting Sept 9, members of the Maine Indian Tribal State Commission asked the board to remove the image and term “Redskin” from the high schools’ athletic teams. The issue generated contentious debate from the community and board members but left out, according to Pooler, the very people it would affect the most which “are the students” she said.
At an October RSU 12 meeting the board ruled that the issue was a “strictly” local concern and asked Wiscasset high school to form a committee to decide what, if any, action should be taken.
Pooler, a 1971 graduate of Wiscasset, understands the sensitive nature of the issue and applauds her student council for responding to the controversy in a proactive way. The idea for the trip came after a discussion with student council co-president Paige Teel who felt the students should be involved in a meaningful way.
“I cannot say enough about these kids. The fact that the student council has taken the lead on this issue for the student body is extremely important,” she said.
One of Pooler’s main thrusts as student council advisor she says is to get students prepared for life outside of high school. In her opinion the mascot controversy is indicative of larger adult hurdles her students may face and it presents an opportunity to tackle a complex situation with rational dialogue. Pooler then contacted the Maine Indian Tribal State Commission and organized a field trip for 10 Wiscasset student council representatives to Pleasant Point, home for the Passamaquoddy tribe, located at the eastern most tip of the state on Passamaquoddy Bay.
“These kids are willing to give up a Saturday and travel four hours up north which speaks to their character,” said Pooler.
Pooler hopes the trip will create a dialogue that transcends semantics to help her students understand the world at large. In addition to lessons in conflict resolution, the trip will also include lunch, fun exercises, and a chance for “kids to be kids” said Pooler. A lifelong resident of Wiscasset, Pooler feels her students will be welcome ambassadors for the town and hopes people don’t assume that “Wiscasset is comprised of bad people.”
“The issue is complex and we wanted to put a face to it,” she said.
Pooler says that the mascot is a “community issue” that needs to be researched before any decision is made. The trip to Pleasant Point is just a single step toward a greater understanding, she said.
“It’s so easy to make decisions about people when you haven’t met them. I want to make sure our kids at Wiscasset see all sides of the issue. It can make a difference because, ultimately, knowledge is power,” said Pooler.