Franklin High School Beings Work Of Replacing Quaker Mascot

PORTLAND, OR – It's not like Franklin High School will be losing a beloved symbol. There's never really been a lot of talk of Quaker Pride at the school. Despite that, the decision from Portland Public Schools that they have to find a new symbol was not an easy one.

On Tuesday, Nov. 13, the school started the process of finding a new mascot.

The problem started last year when the district started receiving complaints that the Quaker was a religious symbol and violated the constitutional provision about separation of religion and state.

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After some debate, the district agreed and told the school to rebrand itself.

KATU first reported that a committee with students, teachers, and parents has started meeting. They will consider other possibilities before deciding on some options.

The accepted story is that Franklin became the Quakers because of the mistaken belief that Benjamin Franklin, after the school is named, was a Quaker.

He was not.

Photo via Franklin High School..