The Lamar High School Redskins in Houston may soon have to find a new name for their sports teams.
In a preliminary vote Thursday, the Houston school board, which runs one of the largest public school systems in the nation, banned the use of the name Redskins and others considered inappropriate by many Indian tribes.
If given final approval, the new policy will force four schools to adopt new names.
Many tribes hope the move will increase the pressure on the Washington Redskins to dump its name. But team owner Daniel Snyder has said repeatedly that the name will not change and that most fans like it.
The Oneida Indian Nation, which is leading the drive to get rid of the name, praised the vote by the Houston board.
"A growing nationwide chorus is putting itself on the right side of history by calling for the long overdue end of the degrading R-word slur," said Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter