If you were principal would you want to keep or remove the "Indian" nickname? Why?
-Be sure to support your answer with reasons supported in the article we read in class
-Be sure to consider the history of Native Americans in the late 1800s
-Discuss the arguments of the other side
RESPONSES SHOULD BE 4-5 SENTENCES AN CITE SPECIFIC INFORMATION FROM THE ARTICLE AND NATIVE AMERICAN HOMEWORK SHEET.
***SUPPORT YOUR DECISION WITH VALID EVIDENCE***
As principal, I would not remove the "Indian" nickname. In the article, Insult or Honor, it says, "I have to tell you, I am very, very honored that they would use the name." To remove the "Indian" nickname isn't something that should happen. From this sentence in the article, you can see that the person isn't offended or insulted. In fact, most talk about the "Indian" nickname is all exaggerated and nothing to worry about. As for removing the nickname, it's not needed because people are proud, and not being name called or insulted. Native Americans had been treated horrible and had been forced to learn different languages, become farmers, and had been killed. They aren't many Native Americans today and having the "Indian" nickname, keeps the native Americans relevant and alive today so others can continue to learn and prosper from them.
ReplyDeleteAllison Repsik
In my opinion, the school should not take away "Indians" nickname. Native Americans feel honored for schools to use that as their nicknames. Replacing the nickname may make them feel unimportant. Full blood Indians are proud of it. Students have pride in their name and it wouldn't make them feel good to take it away. Finally, it unites and makes the students feel proud. Some people may say it's insulting and racist. However nothing is being said that is rude to the Indians, some Indians even like the nickname. In conclusion, Souderton should keep the nickname "Souderton Indians."
ReplyDelete-Nada Heddoun
If I were the principle I would say to get rid of the nickname and mascot. The reason I would say this is because it is offensive and upsets people of actual Indian heritage who used to do all the things Indians did. Also how come you would be allowed to have a team's nickname to be the Indians, which would be considered there race ,but if our name was the Souderton African Americans it would be extremely racist? Also other teams could make fun of Indians if we were playing them which would cause controversy. So to eliminate the entire nickname would be the best decision because it would eliminate the racism and the offensiveness also. This would make more people than unhappy so we would no longer be the Souderton Indians if I were principal.
ReplyDeleteIf I were a principal and had to decide the situation about the mascot name "Indian", I would keep the name. The name is actually giving honor to the Indians and it is not meant to insult them even if people think that it is racist. It also has been the name of our mascot for many years and it would ruin our school history. People may think that it ruins the history of the Indians, but others may argue that it keeps them remembered and not forgotten. If you didn't need to change a name that nobody had a problem with before, it is not right to change it now. People should stop thinking racist things about Indian mascots, but in which they do they are actually the racist ones.
ReplyDelete-Austin Marshall
I would have the mascot changed because it is offensive to the Native Americans. They think that it is racism, and name calling. They find it especially dishonoring that people walk over the picture of the Indian mascot on the floor. Also, they do not like how the Indians are portrayed as vulgar or mean. Some think that this would set us back toward racism by changing this because the Native Americans are claiming that they have been singled out for this. I believe it would make the school a more comfortable place for all of the students will feel targeted. As to not upset anyone, I would have it changed so that nobody feels singled out and upset.
ReplyDeleteI would have the mascot changed because it is offensive to the Native Americans. They think that it is racism, and name calling. They find it especially dishonoring that people walk over the picture of the Indian mascot on the floor. Also, they do not like how the Indians are portrayed as vulgar or mean. Some think that this would set us back toward racism by changing this because the Native Americans are claiming that they have been singled out for this. I believe it would make the school a more comfortable place for all of the students will feel targeted. As to not upset anyone, I would have it changed so that nobody feels singled out and upset.
ReplyDeleteElise Barberra
If i were principle i would keep the school mascot as the Indians. i would do it because having your school named after indians shows how important they are and shows pride towards the indians. indians were people that lived and survived by themselves, while the men had one job and the women a different job. they are very inspiring so thats why we should keep them as are mascot. other indians might find this offensive because they think were being racist and insulting them, but were accually honoring them and showing how awesome they are.
ReplyDelete-mike h
If I were the principal of the school, I would keep the nickname Indians. According to the article, many people were proud of the nickname Indian and students enjoyed the nickname, even some Indian tribes supported the idea of having the nickname Indians based on the article. I don’t find it to be offensive and/or racist to them. In fact, I think it supports them by saying that they are still important and cared about by the people.
ReplyDeleteH$
If I were principle, I would just keep the "Indian" nickname because the name itself is not hurting anybody, and never has for 50 some years; it would not be worth the trouble to attempt to try to change the name, and we would loose a part of our schools identity. As said by some of the people in the article we read, it is an honorable gesture to nickname ourselves after those who had lived in this land before us, to show that we still respect and think of them. After all, so long ago natives were pushed around by white settlers, and I'm certain they got plenty of racial abuse; and now as we try to honor and remember those who were brutally treated in the 1800s, people think it is just another insult, and that's their problem if they can't understand our reasoning. In their defense, some schools and even professional sports teams may have names or use images that can be argued that are poking fun and being rude to Native Americans, but if we don't go that far and simply call a team the "Indians" and have our symbol a respectable Indian chief head, I don't see what is the issue.
ReplyDelete-David Good
I would not change the nickname for our school. I will not because Native Americans think it is a honor to have Indians as our nickname. I will also keep this nickname because the name gives pride to the indians and they like so why change it. Another reason why I will not change it is because the nickname unites the students of Souderton to remember the Indians and most indians think that this is all that they have left before they arent remembered anymore and are forgotten.
ReplyDeleteAlthough continuing to be known as the “Souderton Indians” would be ideal, change is good especially when the mascot of our school is offending our students. It has been brought to my attention that the mascot is “proposing Native Americans in a negative way”. Keeping our school mascot as the Indian would give kids a sense of their schools roots, but it isn’t worth making kids feel like outcasts. Our mascot is a stereotypical Native American which has been causing name calling and other jokes to be made. As much as I would love to remain as the “Souderton Indians” we as a community need to make everyone feel welcomed and change our mascot.
ReplyDelete-Liz Evans
If I were principle of the Souderton high school, I would have kept the Indian mascot as it was. Some people may think that it is discrimination or racism to the Indian race and culture, but I see it as using the mascot to show the power of the Indian race. Why else would anyone choose that mascot? If so many schools chose to have an Indian mascot it was meant to signify the power and the mightiness of the Indian. That is why I think no one should take offence. We are basically saying “we chose you because we think you symbolized strength. Those are the reasons that I would keep the Indian mascot at our school.
ReplyDeleteBryce Collingwood
As principal of Souderton Area High School, I believe that we should no longer be considered as the "Indians." Some students at Souderton have felt uncomfortable using the name because it is "considered name-calling" and is racism. The students get goose bumps when they hear the name announce at the beginning of hockey, football, and tennis soccer games. Even though full-blood Native Americans consider it an honor that we use the name, we must listen to the voices of the students and make Souderton a good environment for them. To pursue that goal, I believe that we shall not be called the "Indians" anymore.
ReplyDelete-Liz Kratz
I would want to keep the Indian nickname because of many reasons. Although some people may be offended by it, many aren't. Members of the Spirit Lake Tribe sued to preserve the Fighting Sioux name and logo, which is an image of an Indian in profile with feathers on his head. They have said many times that they take pride in the name. Eunice Davidson, a full-blood and someone who grew up on the reservation, has said that he feels very, very honored that they would use the name. Using the Indian as a mascot for schools is in now way intentionally trying to be offensive or insulting.
ReplyDelete-Madi Scheuren
As principal of SAHS, I believe that we should change our mascot and nickname. The nickname "Indians" can be offensive to the native American kids and families in our school and community. Over 2,000 schools have already dropped this nickname, and we should follow suit.
ReplyDeleteIn some cases, people that are NA are proud of this title, but more often than not, the majority finds it offensive because of how they and their ancestors are portrayed.
So, because we shouldn't make any of our students or families offended, I believe we should drop the mascot and nickname of "Indians".
The Souderton High School should not change their name because it doesn't insult Native Americans. As long as the logo is not savage-like, or doesn't show any other form of disrespect, the name shouldn't be changed. Their haven't been complaints about the name yet so why fix something if it isn't a problem. Also, it could show signs of disrespect changing the name because the school has been the Indians for so long.-Ben yerk
ReplyDeleteIf I were the principal and was faced with the choice of having to change the "Indian" nickname, I would vote to keep it. Even though many people think that using the Indian name and mascot is racist and offensive, as the article said, I believe that there is also a more positive side to look at the situation. For example, the article 'Insult or Honor?', it states that many members of Spirit Lake take pride in the name and think of it as a very big honor. I agree with this statement completely because if I had something named after me for my great contribution to society I would definitely take is a high honor! So, I believe that the name, in this case, should definitely be kept in place!
ReplyDeleteAlthough this is hard for me to say, I Danny Robinson, principal of Souderton Area High School think it is time for a change. I know this may be tough for others to hear as we have been the Indians for a long time now. But times are changing and in today`s day in age it is not appropriate to have an Indian as our mascot and as our nickname. This is offensive and demeaning to many Native Americans in our community. Having students walk over the face of an Indian daily is just not appropriate and can`t happen anymore. We have seen this done in the N.C.A.A. before and we believe that with your help and cooperation we can create a mascot and nickname that everyone in the community can come to love and support. Thank you.
ReplyDelete-Danny Robinson
If I were principal of SAHS I would choose to keep the Indian nickname. In the articles we read, many of the Indians said they saw it as an honour and actually found it disrespectful when a school or college removed their Indian nickname. Also, as far as I know, we don't portray the Indians in a vulgar way so there's no real way to disrespect them. I think it'd be rude to remove our Indian nickname.
ReplyDeleteAlly K.
I believe that Souderton should keep the "Indian" nickname. "It's an honor" (Annis of the Cheyenne Tribe) said an American Indian, "abandoning it would send the tribe one step closer to obscurity." In the 1800's the Native Americans had a fighting spirit that they used to protect their homeland when the US settlers tried to take it away; using the "Indian" nickname is meant to show the school has the same fighting spirit and pride with what we do and stand for. Some might say that using the name "Indians" is insulting but some full-blooded Native Americans who's schools also use the nickname and mascot of an "Indian" say "they're proud of the nickname" (Monica Davey).
ReplyDelete-Guthre
If I were principal I would keep the "Indian" nickname because for one it would be a very big change throughout the school. Another reason is in the article some of the Indians said that they were honored and proud for the school mascot to be named after them. Now, some of the Indians said it was offensive but I think they are being a little dramatic by saying its offensive for a picture of an Indian to be on the floor of a school. Obviously people are going to walk on it. It's not like people are purposely stepping on it to offend anyone. So if I were principal I would keep the "Indian" nickname.
ReplyDelete-Colin Huggins