native american school mascots names new york.

Federal education officials say a New York school district is “erasing its Native American heritage” and violating civil rights law by changing its team name from the “Thunderbirds” to the “T-Birds.” The U.S. Department of Education said Thursday that the Connetquot School District should restore the “rightful” Thunderbirds’ name. The Long Island district agreed to change its team name last year in order to comply with state regulations banning Native American sports names and mascots. But the U.S. Education Department says that state mandate violates federal law. The district said it is reviewing the federal finding.