Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Founded in 1949, St. Mary's is a Roman Catholic High School committed to teaching the. All sports are separated into boys' and girls' with both teams competing in the same season unless otherwise noted. The Town of North Hempstead, which is based in Manhasset on Plandome Road, also has a logo representing a Native American. This was a topic of great discussion at the countys superintendent meeting last week and the advice we received and are following is we are waiting for the regulations, Grossane said. A petition has been started to replace the Manhasset High School mascot. They do not understand the history behind these outfits and accessories. Thirty-five graduating seniors co-signed a letter urging not to alter the school's Indian representation. Williston Park podiatrist's feat: business . Claiming to "represent this culture with the utmost respect", the seniors also called for an "Indian Appreciation Day" dedicated to indigenous leaders teaching about their heritage. Of the district's 3,051 students (as of the 202021 school year), 222 (7.3%) qualified for free lunch, while 17 (0.6%) were eligible for reduced-price lunch. Let's reconnect with our classmates! I didn't see anything wrong with it until I started to think a bit more critically about it. it never happened. Trigg said. The co-signed students also called for an annual community tradition with a district school day dedicated to Indian culture, reserving school facilities for tribal leaders to converse with students on the importance of their heritage. Saint Mary's High School, Manhasset | Manhasset NY - Facebook The states former education commissioner Richard Mills asked schools to end the use of Native American mascots as soon as practical back in 2001. Among the districts affected are Manhasset, Massapequa, Sewanhaka . They most likely do not know much about Native history in general because Native history is not taught in school., One signer who commented on the petition said, I swear to god Ive been saying this for years. If certain representations are deemed inappropriate, it is usually by a minority who are overly sensitive to many things. This has gotta go.. However, at least 133 schools in 55 districts still had native-themed mascots as of March 2022, according to a report by the National Congress of American Indians. Will you do the same? MANHASSET, N.Y. (PIX11) Native American mascots and names will soon no longer be allowed at nearly 60 schools across New York state, including nearly a dozen in the New York City region. "It's a good thing that society evolves and changes and is more inclusive nowadays these are certainly wonderful changes I also see reflected in the Manhasset community present day. I doubt Manhasset intentionally means to have a racist mascot, but public perception nationally and locally puts us on the wrong side of this., District Superintendent Vincent Butera said in a statement to Blank Slate Media that he was aware of the petition., I have and will continue to meet with groups of students and alumni regarding this issue in order to gain input from a variety of stakeholders within our community, Butera said. Montaukett activist Sadanyah FlowingWater and Shinnecock tribe member Jeremy Dennis called for the school to end its use of the "Indian" mascot. We must change the school name and mascot to a more appropriate and less offensive name. (pictured below) The state DOE released a memo on Nov. 17 ordering school districts to stop using mascots, team names or imagery depicting Native Americans by the end of the 2022-2023 school year or risk losing state aid. This is a testament to our terrific students and music faculty and the support they receive throughout the year! An Indian logo does remain in Manhasset Secondary Schools lobby, and the schools newspaper is called Indian Ink. Many different AP courses are available to students. They named the high school after a tribe and made the school mascot a Native American. "[26], At the October 22 board meeting, also attended by speakers from the local Montaukett, Shinnecock, Ungechauk, Setalcott and Matinecock nations, Manhasset residents, students and alumni voiced their opinions on the team name and mascot. Simply put, having a mascot that appropriates indigenous peoples is incongruent with the values I was taught in the Manhasset Public Schools. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO JOIN OUR DAILY CONVERSATION. The district is aware of a petition to change the district mascot, Dr. Vincent Butera, Superintendent of Manhasset Schools, said in a statement. Commenters on the petition refer to the Indian mascot as outdated and racist.. Manhasset Superintendent Gaurav Passi did not commit to changing the districts Indians mascot in a statement to Blank Slate Media Friday. Read more about the psychological harms of Indian mascots to indigenous populations from the American Psychological Association: https://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/indian-mascots. The board of Education appears open to changing the mascot, but we need to send a powerful message to the community that racism will not be tolerated in Manhasset, or in any community, the petition read. (Photo by Samuele Petruccelli), Zoning Board retirement, traffic top East Williston meeting, Longtime Great Neck resident, veteran Mort Zimmerman dies at 98, Lavine Calls For Police Probe After Alleged Corruption Case, Hempstead, Oyster Bay Repeal Local Abortion Restrictions, Following North Hempstead, Zack Britton returns to Yankees after Tommy John surgery, Virginia vists unbeaten Syracuse on Friday night. Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content! CLICK HERE for Manhasset School District's YouTube Channel, CLICK HERE for Manhasset Broadcasting Company's You Tube Channel, Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). St. Mary's High School. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. Contact. Sewanhakas school newspaper is called The Chieftain, and the yearbook is called Totem. He was, Virginia (2-1, 0-0 ACC) at Syracuse (3-0, 1-0), Friday, 7 p.m. Not once at any school or community event have we witnessed the Indian name be tarnished or demeaned in any way, rather, we watch as students and community members proudly boast the name, chanting We are the Indians for anyone in the nearby vicinity to hear.. The group of students claimed that the Manhasset students metaphorically wore the Indian name with pride and passion. Nearly 60 school districts will be required to eliminate all use of Indigenous-related mascots and imagery by the end of the 2024-2025 school year, or risk losing state aide, board members unanimously ruled. Manhasset High School seniors call to keep mascot, lack of board Manhasset High School . [11] In Niche's 2022 rankings, Manhasset High School placed 69th in the ranking of best public high schools nationwide, 11th in its ranking of public high schools in New York state, 18th in the New York City metropolitan area and 4th in Nassau County. At sports events, cheerleaders have already started chanting, Lets go, White Guys! During my 13 years of education in the Manhasset school district, I was taught to think critically and to honor and value diversity and inclusion. [20] At this point in time, no visual "Indians" name or related iconography appeared on team uniforms, at least as worn in contemporary yearbooks. Then-Athletic Director James Amen reiterated that no such change had been made, defending both the shift to the "M with a feather" logo and the retention of the "Indians" nickname: "From time to time, some of the decals on the helmets change. Additionally, a graphic used by the district comprises an M with an orange and blue feather hanging off its top right corner. Besides terminating alterations to the mascot, the soon-to-be alumni of Manhasset High School authored a rebuttal to accusations that the schools Indian image is racist and derogatory, writing Manhasset students metaphorically and literally wear the Indian name across their chest with pride and passion., Manhasset students represent this culture with the utmost respect, read the letter. MP/SR KINDERGARTEN SCREENING ALL DAY. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Theislandnow.com. 89.9% of public school households live in dwellings owned by the householder, while 10.1% are renters. Manhasset "Indians" - Manhasset Media All Rights Reserved. The Manhasset School District, like Sewanhaka, will also be awaiting further guidance from the states education department before making a decision on potentially changing its mascot. . Manhasset High School Should Change The Racist Mascot This page is not available in other languages. On its website, the Manhasset Booster Club sells clothing, including T-shirts and hats, and other merchandise with the Indian name, but does not have any apparel with an Indian head logo. We have to ask ourselves what has taken so long? [27] With the school facing criticism regarding its team name and mascot, then-Superintendent Vincent Butera discussed the team mascot with MJI activists as well as FlowingWater and a Navajo nation member. Manhasset High School is situated on a hill directly to the east of the opening of Manhasset Bay, in the western part of the Manhasset School District. Manhasset High School has a 98% four-year graduation rate according to 20172021 data, coming in significantly ahead of the New York state average of 86%. Manhasset, Sewanhaka pressured to change Indian mascots Schools with Native American mascots must change or face - MSN The Matinecocks were forcibly removed from the territory, with Manhasset keeping the Indian mascot name along with having an orange feather attached to the M in their logo and calling their newspaper Indian Ink.. It is especially offensive given that the school has little contact with indigenous populations, and a community of predominately and historically white people have appropriated the mascot. A quickly-growing school population created a need for expansion, and the building has been extended multiple times, with the first new addition coming in 1941.[6][7][8]. The new mascot should be left to vote for the Manhasset community. This included the NYSSMA Major Organization Festival and Music in the Parks. Manhasset students represent this culture with the utmost respect, the letter said. MHS Manhasset High School Manhasset, NY USA Wednesday April 26, 2023 1991 She wrote: "Even as a young child in the early 1990s attending Munsey Park Elementary school, I knew that the Manhasset High School mascot, the Indians, was immoral. State To School Districts: Lose The Native Mascots Or Lose Funding [16][17][18], The varsity sports teams at Manhasset High School are known as the Indians. The Manhasset School District, like Sewanhaka, will also be awaiting further guidance from the state's education department before making a decision on potentially changing its mascot. The state DOE released a memo on Nov. 17 ordering school districts to stop using mascots, team names or imagery depicting Native Americans by the end of the . Copyright 2023 Anton Media Group All Rights Reserved , Petition To Replace Manhasset High School Mascot, www.change.org/p/manhasset-residents-and-manhasset-youth-manhasset-high-school-should-change-their-masco, Tom Suozzi Addresses Concerns For Restaurants And Catering Halls, Groundbreaking Endometriosis Study Enters Phase 2, Welcome The Newest WWE Hall Of Fame Inductee: Andy Kaufman, Hicks Nurseries And The Rise (And Fall) Of The Gold Coast Estates, The Bahr Gallery Presents The Hippie Ethos Exhibit. Ciampino pointed the words double meaning and noted that few take issue with the name of San Franciscos pro-basketball team of the same name. The new ban, supported by the Shinnecock Indian Nation and Oneida Indian Nation, does not apply to tribal schools, education officials said. We urge the school board and administration to immediately stop proceeding with the backdoor termination of our Indian image and rather speak with the proud Manhasset community before any changes are made.. [32][33], On November 17, 2022, the New York State Department of Education issued a memo prohibiting the use of Native American mascots by schools without approval from a recognized tribe and stating that any district not in compliance by the end of the 202223 school year may risk being found in willful violation of the Dignity for All Students Act, with penalties including the potential removal of school officers and withholding of funds.[34][35]. Kellenberg Memorial High School is a Roman Catholic college-preparatory school in Uniondale, New York, on Long Island, United States. Manhasset High School The state's former education commissioner Richard Mills asked schools "to end the use of Native American mascots as soon as practical" back in 2001. However, at least. Manhasset, Sewanhaka pressured to change Indian mascots, A Sewanhaka High School student dressed as an Indian, the schools mascot, at their 2017 homecoming parade. A petition headlined, "Manhasset High School should change the racist mascot," started out as a small petition in early June and turned into a widely followed page with close to 2,000 signatures. I believe these players are proud when the don the teams uniforms and play to give honor to them. Due to volume, readers are limited to one letter in print every 45 days. Credit: https://www.manhassetschools.org/. Therefore, we all need to take initiative to ensure it is changed, once and for all.". Superintendent of Manhasset Schools Dr. Vincent Butera announced that the school district will have a Zoom public meeting on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the issue. In our opinion, a mascot would be if we had someone dressed as an Indian running up and down the sidelines at a football game. We have so many other things to be proud of, and Im sure we can find something different to put on our orange and blue sweatshirts.. December 3, 2022. For logos that do bear Native American representation, Amen said, he doesnt believe the treatment of the Indian symbol is undignified. The Manhasset and Sewanhaka school districts are both receiving heat from community members and alumni to retire the mascots as the Washington Redskins football team announced that it would retire its name, which Native American groups have called a racial slur, and logo. ", Manhasset High School Should Change the Racist Mascot. In the lobby of the Manhasset Secondary School, you are greeted by a large Native American wooden statue. In an update on the petition page two weeks ago, Trigg let Manhasset residents know how close they were to getting through to the administration. It . The letter's authors wrote "Manhasset is an Indian tribe. ", Many other educational institutions have chosen names of white guys such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, Schlanger said. At the request of the school district, which sought to measure input originating from local residents only, the Manhasset Justice Initiative (MJI), a local social justice activism group, created a similar petition with signing restricted to Manhasset-affiliated individuals. The MJI responded in a statement that "by claiming '[they] are the Indians,' [the letter's authors] are claiming that [they] have the shared experience of the hardship the native communities faced and paying homage to a caricature that doesnt accurately represent [those communities]. Mills claimed the mascots can become a barrier to building a safe and nurturing school community andimproving academic achievement for all students.. 90.6% of dwellings are houses while 9.6% are apartments or some other form of lodging. [19] In the prior edition of The Tower, the school's athletic teams are only referred to as "The Orange and Blue", an appellation also used for them in 1939 alongside "Indians". Theres no way to justify the mascot as it is.. 1 talking about this. Regents officials countered that the name Indian was an inaccurate historical term derived from Christopher Columbus failure to distinguish North America from the West Indies. This came after years of public outcry, including its own fan base, but also pressure from sponsors and minority owners like FedEx CEO Fred Smith, to majority owner Daniel Snyder for a change in name. The Island Nows mission is to create an educational platform that educates through simplicity and entertainment. Knowing how to live off the land and be ecological friendly unlike the many spoiled children of Manhasset who knock over planters because they are bored and drop their garbage all over the place. Manhasset Secondary School - Wikipedia https://theisland360.com | Contact Us: 22 Planting Field Road, Roslyn Heights 11577 | The football team had the Redskins logo on their helmet in the past and an alternative version can be found on the boys basketball teams shorts. View Full Report Card. In my mind, we treat the Indian logo with respect and dignity. What started out as a personal concern that Joanna Trigg had throughout her academic career at the Manhasset School District has turned into a petition to replace Manhassets mascot, which is an image of an Indian head. [10], In the U.S. News & World Report 2022 ranking of U.S. high schools, Manhasset High School was ranked 215th nationally, 24th in New York state, 35th in the New York City metropolitan area and 78th on the ranking of STEM schools. Im a proud Manhasset Indian, and I pray the tradition never ends. 567 were here. In June, the MJI had a meeting with Butera and a member of the school board to discuss the issue of the mascot. Before emailing the board of education, Schwenk shared the letter with Manhasset High School Principal Dean Schlanger, who he says hes gotten to know during his time in the 7th 12th grade building. It should. In 2001, a Manhasset focus group recommended that no changes should be made to Manhasset High School's Indian mascot. Change.org Uh oh. Pro Photography. I think it sounds so much cooler.. And we are the Indians." Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I will forever be a Mohonasen Warrior.. The petition, Manhasset High School Should Change the Racist Mascot, on change.org was started by Jo Trigg, a 2004 Manhasset graduate, and has 3,081 signatures as of publication. Opponents Of Manhasset Indians React To No-Native Mascot State Ruling Trigg ultimately decided to pass the torch over to the Manhasset Justice Initiative (MJI), a group that works with organizations throughout the Manhasset community to bring social justice to the education systems and other local issues. Trigg told Patch that she believes the ruling in New York was slow in coming. Manhasset needs to realize that the use of caricature as a Mascot is racist and incredibly insensitive, signer of the petition, Sophia Colalillo said. Groundwork for the new changes had been laid out long before the NFLs Washington Redskins and MLBs Cleveland Indians changed their names to the Commanders and Guardians respectively in 2022. [3] Manhasset students were previously authorized to study at Flushing High School or in Great Neck per inter-district agreements. The Manhasset Board of Education did not respond to multiple emails and phone requests for comment. MJI is working on advancing the petition and getting the mascot changed. If nothing else, Americans have learned and improved us into the greatest, giving nation in the world. As New Yorks most senior member on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, I will stand against the Far Left woke agenda and provide critical oversight to ensure schools in New Yorks 21st District have the funds to equip our next generation.. It should seem obvious that a group or school does not choose a mascot to represent it that is degrading. We are communicating a message of inclusivity and dignity for all, Butera told the Manhasset Press. And we are the Indians., State Assemblyman Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove) has requested that the county Legislatures Public Safety Committee look into corruption claims within, The Towns of Hempstead and Oyster Bay have repealed local abortion restrictions following recent calls from elected officials. Not only that but they call that school mascot an Indian and call it an "honor". Cancel cancel culture and honor who we are and where we came from, the good with the bad. The upcoming meeting will have representatives of the Montauckett Indian Nation, Shinnecock Indian Nation and National Congress of American Indians present to speak on the matter. The boys' and girls' fencing teams practice together and compete separately on a coordinated schedule. The petition started by Trigg has gotten more signatures than she initially imagined. I asked them to seriously consider removing the mascot, Flowing Water, also the founder and executive director of the nonprofit World Alliance of Indigenous Peoples, said. Manhasset Secondary School - Wikiwand Ruby Design Company. Its not a red-faced Indian which I think people get upset with, Amen said. Thirty-five Manhasset High School class of 2021 student government representatives and varsity athletic team captains co-signed an email accusing the board of education of making a start to change the mascot without consulting the community. We have to ask ourselves what has taken so long?. What was once acceptable, no longer is. /* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. I graduated from Manhasset High School in 2004, and thought that as some time passed, the mascot would change. MANHASSET, NY A November state Department of Education ruling that public school districts can no longer use Native American mascot names and imagery reignited debates across Long Island that have been happening for years. As a result of some community concern, the Board of Education and administration will be surveying each of the school mascots to gauge their appropriateness to the school and their community values, Sewanhaka Central High School District Superintendent James Grossane said. New York State Public High School Athletic Association; About. Its not enough to have a symbolic figurehead and put their name and say, oh, the Indians were respecting them. If we really want to respect them, we need to talk about what they look like today because the image of them as the mascot is outdated. Travis Fortounas is a contributing writer for Anton Media Group. The Board of Regents, which presides over the states education department, voted to phase out Native American-related nicknames as part of a politically correct national effort to scrub racially insensitive imagery from sports teams. Manhasset Under Pressure To Change Mascot Therefore, we all need to take initiative to ensure it is changed, once and for all. All Rights Reserved. Sewanhaka creating committee to change high school name, mascot. Hidden Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) Form, District Homepage Photo Gallery "Full Story", Committees: Audit and Citizens Advisory Committee, District Financial and Budget Information, Meeting Information (Notices, Agendas, Minutes, Presentations and Recognition Photos), Messages from the Superintendent of Schools. We will be sharing any updates on this matter at future Board meetings.. Since graduating from Manhasset HS in 2004, Trigg has always been an advocate for racial injustice throughout her academic career in the Manhasset school district. You have entered an incorrect email address! [36], In fine art, Manhasset High School offers 23 possible course options, including AP Studio Art and AP Art History. In a letter that was signed by 35 student senior leaders you would hope that over a week the board of education would be able to respond to that letter or even confirm that theyve received the letter.. This story has been shared 685,759 times. A Change.org petition for Manhasset to change its mascot, . Manhasset High School is a very competitive school as their SAT scores are around 1300s. 91.5% of households have access to broadband internet. Manhasset Public Schools (@manhassetpublicschools) Instagram photos and videos. Mar 27. That included but was not limited to naming the school sports teams as the Manhasset Indians, the school newspaper as The Indian Ink, and having the school logo be a capital M wearing an Indian feather. NY schools banned from using Native American-related mascots The Department does not anticipate that any team names, logos, or mascots that contain vestiges of prohibited team names, logos, or mascots will be considered acceptable, New York State Department of Education spokesperson JP OHare wrote in an email. It represents this really purely stereotypical and whitewashed view about what we think Indians look like.. Multiple residents of Mahopac in Putnam County had told the board that their schools Indian name came about to honor those people[,] not deride them, according to the proposal that was approved Tuesday. Yearbook - High School; Yearbook - Middle School (Chief) American Sign Language Club; Broadcast Journalism; Class of 2025; Fed Challenge Club; Marketing Club; . By claiming We are the Indians, we are claiming that we have the shared experience of the hardship the native communities faced and paying homage to a caricature that doesnt accurately represent them, the initiative said in a statement last year. Butera says the school district is not looking for guidance from the state and that this will be treated as a local matter. */. Booster Club, District Office Community Room, 7:30 p.m. Board of Ed Mtg. Support local journalism by subscribing to your Blank Slate Media community newspaper for just $35 a year. Volunteer at the Baxter's Pond Spring Clean Up! Not once at any school or community event have we witnessed the Indian name be tarnished or demeaned in any way, rather, we watch as students and community members proudly boast the name, chanting We are the Indians for anyone in the nearby vicinity to hear.. Trigg recently told Patch.com that the states education department made a memorandum more than 20 years ago that schools that depict Native American imagery should stop doing so. However, as you can see from this list, societal norms shift and change. Teams . "I think change is scary for a lot of folks. To prove how wrong this mascot is, consider a mascot called the Blacks, the Jews, the Caucasians, the Asians, image and all? MANHASSET, NY A November state Department of Education ruling that public school districts can no longer use Native American mascot names and imagery reignited debates across Long Island. The people of MJI are moving forward with all work involving the petition at this point in time.. Associations. Letters become the property of Newsday and are edited for all media. More than 30 members of the Manhasset High Schools Class of 2021, including student government representatives and varsity athletic team captains, co-signed an email last year that accused the Board of Education of making a change to the mascot without informing the rest of the public. [9] 26 Advanced Placement (AP) courses were offered at Manhasset in 202021, with 522 students sitting for 1,406 exams in that school year, including approximately 75% of 12th grade students. Change Sewanhaka high school name and mascot Its just stylistic changes.. Rumors of a new image circulate throughout the school, but also clear changes have been made around the building, the email said. FlowingWater asked the district to "seriously consider" removing the mascot at that time, citing the logo's similarity with that of the Washington Redskins. In fact, just the opposite is true. The sport would grow in popularity in the area over the coming decades, with Long Island overtaking Maryland as the top region for high school lacrosse in the United States by the 1960s. She says she hopes the district can move quickly to enact changes. . Notify me of follow-up comments by email. as the Washington Redskins football team announced that it would retire its name, which Native American groups have called a racial slur, and logo. At Manhasset Al Fresco, a moment of silence was held, followed by businesses like Villa Milano donating an evening's sales to the GoFundMe pages of victims, according to official Facebook posts.