Shawnee Mission North is one of fourteen Kansas high schools that use Indians as a mascot.

Manhattan ? Native American mascots are popular among Kansas high schools even as a national debate rages over whether they should be eliminated.

Fourteen of them use “Indians,” making it the fourth most popular mascot in the state, according to The Manhattan Mercury, which conducted an analysis of a list it obtained from the Kansas State High School Activities Association.

One of those schools is in Manhattan, where the school board is considering changing it. Critics say the mascot is offensive and insensitive to American Indians. Manhattan has used an Indian mascot since 1940. A push to change it in 2001 was unsuccessful.

Schools using an Indian mascot vary in size from Satanta High with 74 students to Manhattan and Shawnee Mission North, both with more than 1,500.

Other mascot names with Native American ties include three schools that use Redskins. Another two use Redmen, while Wamego uses Red Raiders. Two use Chieftains; two use Braves. One school, Perry- Lecompton, uses Kaws.

The state’s top-ranked mascots are Bulldogs, with 23 (including one Bulldawgs, and not including one Bullpups). There’s then a tie between Eagles and Wildcats, both with 21. Another two schools use Golden Eagles, which didn’t count toward the Eagles total.

Among other mascots that could be considered to be named for particular ethnic groups: One Fighting Irish, one Celtics, one Scots and one Teutons (a Germanic clan).

Among other names for groups of people: four use Knights, three use Lancers, and there’s one each for Patriots, Plainsmen and Mule-Skinners. There’s one Oilers. Two use Railers; one uses Railroaders. Two each use Pirates and Pioneers. Five use Raiders. Two use Cowboys. And there’s the rather ambiguous Junior Blues.

Just one uses Jayhawks, the analysis found.