Students sound off on mascots, school construction, sports fees
Daily News of Newburyport
Newburyport, MA
April 16, 2007
The following letters were submitted by students in the Leadership Class taught by Dwight Kranz at Amesbury High School.
Nothing wrong with 'Indian' mascot
To the editor:
Mascots have been around practically since the beginning of high schools. School mascots, from the time your school was built, have been representing your town and school. When you hear Amesbury, you think of Amesbury Indians. When you hear Pentucket, you think Pentucket Sachems and when you hear Newburyport, you think Newburyport Clippers. If the Amesbury High School Indian was changed, history and recognition would be lost. Whether the word "Indian" or the actual mascot was changed, the reputation would be changed as well.
Leave well enough alone. The Amesbury High School Indian is not a problem; therefore, there isn't an issue. The current tiff brought up by some people concerns the word "Indian." Well, when the school adopted the mascot and name of it, "Indian" was an acceptable term and not meant to be offensive. Times are forever changing and to up and re-modify everything every time interpretations change is ridiculous. As said before, we should just leave well enough alone.
DIANE PIKE
Too costly to change mascots
To the editor:
Why is a mascot such a big problem? Changing the name of school mascots will only cause more controversy. Who is going to decide the new mascots and their names? Who will pay for all of the equipment and team uniforms? I do not see the problem in names like the Amesbury Indians or the Pentucket Sachems or the Chieftains of Masco. Changing school mascots will only cause more problems and headaches. It will cost extra money for public schools that are already in a financial bind. Resolving this "problem" will cause more issues to deal with.
TIMOTHY J. MROZ JR.
AHS takes pride in its mascot
To the editor:
Throughout the nation, college sports teams such as Illinois, St. John's and UMass-Lowell have had to change mascots due to the controversial issue of having Native American mascots. And this is not only occurring at the college level but it is spreading through all leagues of all ages across the country.
Just a few years ago it was talked about that the Amesbury Indians would have to change their mascot but, luckily, the idea was turned down. However, it is now a few years later and the idea of changing mascots around the country is greater than ever and we need to turn down the idea before it even reaches Amesbury.
Logically, the only real reason to change mascots is if there are disrespectful things taking place involving the mascot, and in Amesbury I don't feel that we have that problem. If anything, I feel that we embrace the Indian and take pride in it. Just take a look at the football mascot Joe Folger. Everybody that has ever gone to a football game knows and loves Joe and what he represents. Joe's life and soul are in Amesbury sports, and you couldn't find a more dedicated, genuine and respectable person that would be more proud and honored to wear the Indian suit.
Clearly the Indian is very well respected in Amesbury and should be around for many more students to take pride in many years to come.
ADAM JOYCE