Thunderbird native american name1/25/2024 Having taught for 34 years in New York City schools and considering the state of so many of our schools, I would hope that the state Board of Regents would spend its time looking for solutions to problems in education, not looking for a solution to a non-existent problem. By eliminating these names not only will the Native American culture not be honored, but it will be more quickly forgotten. It is a way to find that consistent response that the editorial's last paragraph seeks. It is hoped these qualities can then be found in our schools. The use of Native American names and words for our schools' teams is an acknowledgment of the qualities needed for success on and off the field. Hopefully, common sense will prevail and, in this case, the Thunderbird can remain the Connetquot nickname and mascot. Described as a supernatural being, the enormous bird symbolized power and strength that protected humans from evil spirits." I can't imagine how this nickname would be offensive to anyone. Here's one definition: "The Thunderbird is a widespread figure in Native American mythology in the United States and Canada. With the recent controversy, I researched it. I didn't realize the Thunderbird nickname had anything to do with Native American culture until a few years ago. I moved to Ronkonkoma in 1989, and my youngest child graduated from the high school in 2014. Our school nickname is the Thunderbirds, usually referred to as the T-Birds. I live in the Connetquot school district. The next generation is always watching and listening to our example. More broadly, we need to lead with understanding and empathy. Everyone’s opinions matter, but we should be guided by the viewpoint of Native Americans since the names refer to their heritage. It was nice to see some letters focused on the mascots' positive traits, but it is presumptuous to frame the names as complimentary or offensive to the group's members. Unfortunately, the one missing opinion among all of the letters published about the school mascot issue is the one that matters most - the opinion of Native Americans.
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