In 2004, through the work of activists and parents, the residents of Merrimack Valley School District voted to change their sports identity to the Pride. My 5-year-old loves the lion and has been excited to attend school there. However, recently, the ousted “Indian” mascot is now reappearing in the high school under the pretense of displaying “important pieces of the district’s history.” The pride felt toward a school mascot is powerful, and the residents feel it their whole lives. This nostalgia does not excuse promoting racially harmful images within the schools.
In 2002 the N.H. Department of Education passed a resolution acknowledging that the use of Indian mascots is harmful to the student body and endorsed the removal of such mascots. This is supported by the American Psychological Association, which has deemed the use of American Indian mascots harmful to Native American students and undermines the education of all students.
As parents, we all want a school district for our children that we can take pride in. I urge other residents to please speak out. Contact the principal and superintendent and demand they remove the harmful mascot from the high school and continue to take pride in the changes we have made to create an inclusive learning environment for all our students.
JESSICA WHEELER RUSSELL
Concord