I was happy to see the article in today’s Recorder stating that the process for the Turners Falls High School mascot change is moving forward. I want to commend the members of the task force for taking on this issue and coming up with some great choices. I do hope that the process will continue to move forward regardless of who is elected for school committee in May.

The mascot has a long history and I know many alumni and people in town want to see it stay, arguing that it’s a tradition that honors Native Americans. I will admit when my kids were in marching band I loved hearing the fight song at football games. But, every time they would do “the chop” I would cringe.

For me it’s simple. Native Americans are people with a deep cultural history rooted right here in Montague. Why would we use them, people in our own community, as a sports mascot? How can we say the mascot is honoring people when the very people we want to honor say they don’t feel honored? What does this teach our kids?

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights “condemns the use of Native American images and nicknames as sports symbols.” The commission states, “The stereotyping of any racial, ethnic, religious or other groups, when promoted by our public educational institutions, teaches all students that stereotyping of minority groups is acceptable — a dangerous lesson in a diverse society. Schools have a responsibility to educate their students; they should not use their influence to perpetuate misrepresentations of any culture or people.”

I know the intent was never to be disrespectful. But, intent and reality are not always the same. On May 21 I will be voting for Jennifer Lively. Jennifer grew up in Montague, attended TFHS and cares deeply about the school system. She supports moving forward with a new name and mascot and will not vote to turn back time. I urge you to vote for her too and to continue to move forward with finding a new name and a new tradition. Go TF! Powertown! Go Thunder? Go Raptors? Go Chargers? I like Powertown Raptors.

Mary Kociela

Montague