What's in A Name? by Mrs. Isaacs

12/17/2014

These sports fans proudly display their Native American mascot at a recent game. Do you think this is offensive? Why or why not.

As we wrap up our study of the Land and People Before Columbus, we discussed the controversial issue of Native American mascots. We watched a video clip about Charlene Teeters who attended graduate school at the University of Illinois and began a campaign to educate people about the Native American perspective of how mascots portray their race. The owner of the Washington Redskins, Dan Snyder, appeared in another video clip declaring he would never change the name of his team because it conveys "...honor and respect..."
What do you think? Are Native American mascots offensive or are they a time-honored tradition that is not meant to harm or be prejudice? Why are there no other mascots in sports that portray racial and religious groups? Should Native American mascots be changed or left alone? Are Native Americans being too sensitive or do they have a valid point?
Post your thoughts below. I look forward to reading your thoughts. This blog will remain up through Christmas Break.

A newspaper political cartoon asks us to imagine other races as mascots. Does this change your perspective?

Formulate an opinion about this cartoon. Do you agree or disagree?

Are sports mascots the only media that may contribute to the Native American mascot debate? What about Disney movies? What's your opinion?

Ajg

12/17/2014 06:10:31 am

I thank that it is making fun of thiem

morgan turner

1/11/2015 11:52:41 am

I agree A.J.G

hunter

12/17/2014 09:32:51 am

I agree with an I thing it is mean and they need to change it

Tyler Siria

12/17/2014 11:07:41 pm

These people are braking the natives first admentment

brooklyn

12/18/2014 02:04:09 am

I am not prejudice against anyone. But i think they take racism to far sometimes. racism is a bad thing but it should not be used everytime someone thinks they have been treated unfairly.

morgan turner

1/11/2015 11:53:54 am

I agree with that statement

Buck

12/18/2014 02:21:45 am

I think native Americans shouldn't care because if they didn't care 20 years ago why would they care now even thought it is cruel and hateful why do they care.

Sasha

12/18/2014 02:32:56 am

I think that they should not have naive America as mask sockets because that should hurt the native Americas .

Rebecca

12/18/2014 02:35:48 am

I agree with you Sasha I think to that it would hurt the native americans

morgan turner

1/11/2015 11:59:14 am

I agree they should not have a native American as there masksot

Buck

12/18/2014 02:38:13 am

why would native americans care because its not like they have to watch ball games they are not made to do anything they choose to watch the ball games if they wanted to they could stop watching but they don't so i think they should not be able to make us change our name

Sasha

12/18/2014 02:40:32 am

I also think that it could hurt anyone if they care about social study's.

Buck

12/18/2014 02:40:40 am

if native American did not want to know all about this they can stay at home or do something else

Sasha

12/18/2014 02:43:08 am

Why do you think that buck

Breanna Tipton

12/18/2014 02:44:07 am

I think that it so rude thank put your self in thire place

Rebeca

12/18/2014 02:49:24 am

Why do you think that Breanna????????????

mikayla

12/20/2014 05:13:51 pm

i think shes saying that its not very nice to use the indians as a name for a sports name that sounds like their way of religion to have red tent to their skin and my mom used to say if you dont want to feel bad about what others think of you dont say mean things about them i also think you should not just asume what someone looks like

Sasha

12/18/2014 02:47:33 am

I think that they could fight to Chang our names. I agree with buck

mikayla

12/21/2014 02:58:55 am

why WE use a name that describes indians so we are maybe making fun of their religion! also what if they had a game and their team name is the dumb americans how would we feel cause i just would feel bad about myself just because a team is named after my races stupidity

morgan turner

1/11/2015 12:02:23 pm

me to

Buck

12/18/2014 02:48:50 am

why would it hurt native Americans when they want to go watch lets say a native American when to a ball game and ficture out that a mascot something like they can leave and then tell another native American then it will keep going around to all the native americans but lets say a native American went to a ball game and the mascot was something they did like they could tell native Americans and then everything would be fine kids wanted to go to a ball game mom or dad knows where to take them

Buck

12/18/2014 02:52:04 am

3 line in my last one should say ficture out that a mascot is something they didn't like they can leave

Buck

12/18/2014 02:55:43 am

anyone that thinks they shouldn't change there name i agree

Buck

12/18/2014 03:35:40 am

I think people should change there name without over half agreeing that they should change it what do you think Mrs. Isaacs

Buck

12/18/2014 04:02:10 am

I think once again they should not be able (native americans) to change it because it is just wrong they care now and not before states made it a law were you cant change it

Aaliyah

12/20/2014 11:20:37 am

I think it's ok and that we are representing or supporting or even honoring natives and that they and some people need to calm down a bit.

mikayla rilley

12/20/2014 04:49:31 pm

i feel like thats bullying and i think people need to change their name

morgan turner

1/11/2015 11:50:07 am

I agree with you Mikayla that is very rude because some people that have Indian anseter may be like "what are you bullying me" and might hurt there feelings

morgan turner

12/21/2014 01:23:49 pm

i think it is rude to do that because some Indians that have ansester Indians may think that is very rude in there culture so yes I think they should change the name who agrees with me

Sasha

12/23/2014 03:40:01 am

I agree with you Morgan.

morgan turner

1/11/2015 11:41:25 am

thank you Sasha

Sasha

12/23/2014 03:55:50 am

I think that the people should change Native American mascots because they could damage our culture thanks to Native American mascots. That is why I think that we should change our mascots to other stuff just not native Americans .

morgan turner

1/11/2015 11:40:31 am

I agree with Sasha

AJ G

2/6/2015 12:22:39 am

Its not riyte

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Author

Ms. Melody Stephens is in her 21st year of teaching, 15 of which have been in 5th Grade at Emma B. Ward. The topics the author discusses in this blog are intended to be from an unbiased and neutral point of view and provide an extension of classroom instruction.

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What's in A Name? by Mrs. Isaacs

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