Shorewood alums contest school board decision to change school mascot
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
"The vote was a hasty response to Washington State legislature HB 1356 banning the inappropriate use of Native American images as school mascots.
"The legislation clearly allows the appropriate use of Native American mascots and encourages school districts and schools to work together and learn from local Native tribes – just as Shorewood High School did when the Thunderbird was originally chosen as Shorewood’s mascot."
So begins a Change.org petition posted by Shorewood alum Anna Deliganis.
Her stated goal is to let the Shoreline School Board know that you "disagree with their decision and want them to thoughtfully and honestly engage with local Native American tribes, Shorewood students, alumni, and the broader Shorewood community."
She hopes to get enough signatures to get the school board to reconsider their decision. "Sign this petition and please pass it on to other Shorewood alumni and community members so we can send the message to the school board that we want the Thunderbird and want to work with and honor our local Indigenous American tribes."
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20 comments:
Embarrassing that this is the problem that people choose to focus on. Move on. Let go.
As a member of the first graduating class (1978) with the guidance of Bill Holm. Bill Holm, Professor Emeritus of Art History, and Curator Emeritus of Northwest Coast Indian Art at the Burke Museum, is recognized internationally as one of the most knowledgeable experts in the field of Northwest Coast Native art history. We had those conversations with tribes and chose our mascot respectfully. The school board wouldn't listen to the rich history, and wouldn't allow the current students at Shorewood to hear how we chose the Shorewood mascot. One person on the school board is responsible for removing it-she spoke for the legislation in Olympia, and it was her agenda from the beginning to rid Shorewood of it's mascot. She didn't offer the conversation with students and tribes as was written into the bill. Most schools engaged with tribes and kept their mascots. Why weren't we afforded the same opportunity.
I don't think this is an "embarrassing" problem to focus on at all, rather it is an important issue and points to how poor performing this school board has been. It ignored community input and pushed it's agenda while taking its eye off the budget (currently at $12 million short and they propose cutting teachers and educational programs). Why was the board not fulfilling it's fiduciary oversight? Instead they pushed an unpopular mascot change and are not being transparent about how they will fund all the new uniforms and rebranding at the school. Overall, unnecessary, disrespectful, and financially completely irresponsible.
The kids DO NOT CARE. High school is about as transient as any communal experience imaginable - move on.
Our community, district and students need to know what happened. I am a student at SW and I am shocked that I didn't know about the Thunderbird's history. It was thoughtfully chosen and the local tribes were involved and they had a ceremony for it!!! Really? No idea!! There was a wonderful story that was not shared with us. The school board and our principal made it seem like we didn't have a choice--that we "had" to change our mascot." It would have been a wonderful learning opportunity for our school last year. Maybe we would have still changed it, yet we would have had a choice like other districts. We should not "move on" until everyone knows the entire story. School Board and Principal Dunbar...please believe in your students. Share this story..... tell the truth....and maybe with this "Change.org". We might have a "voice" to change it back??? Thank you! Go Thunderbirds! (A cheer on behalf of the SW Alumni...and thanks Class of 1978!)
The ship has sailed. Or, the bird has flown.
In the Shorewood High School I attended, we embraced the Thunderbird as our our mascot. Along with it's rich cultural history behind the insignia, we cheered loudly for our school! Win or lose, We proudly celebrated and carried our treasured logo high! This iconic symbol was gifted to us by true social togetherness, and we learned of the engagement of schools with our local tribes helping strengthen our shared community. In what can only be one of three reasons, either ignorance, hate or revenge, someone is trying to strip us of this? The meaning behind the BADASS Thunderbird is: great power, strength, and protection for humans against evil spirits.
Either, In an uneducated attempt to protect ideological "cultural sensitivity" it appears that some, person or people, have blatant disregard to our revered Thunderbird, and an apparent disrespect to the history and meaning behind this gift.
I don't like to believe people still act in prejudice and hate, but the despicable person or people could have a deep hatred to the peaceful ties to our Native American community has with the school system our current youth is to be shaped from. This stupidly adamant party seems have forgotten the rich blending of differences our "melting pot" country has brought, in unity and peace.
Or… Did they graduate from Shorecrest? Lol
Whatever the foolish reason, any attempt to extricate Shorewood's emblem of the Thunderbird is and act of "evil", and it will be fought.
We have entered the realm in the paradox of tolerance. We must be intolerant of the intolerant!
I, clearly, vote that Shorewood get the honor to maintain the peaceful gift, the Thunderbird as our logo.
Ema B class of 96
I am a high school KID from Shorewood and I DO CARE! Many of us have signed the change.org document and we are ready to come back to school and talk to the leadership about it.
What the heck is a Stormray anyways?
My kid cares and goes to Shorewood. I would not put words in others mouths. They have an opinion and a voice.
I wish that our school board directors would hold intentional collaborative community forums with their constituents. When was the last time that we saw one - beyond the community meetings done this past spring on the district’s budget woes?
My experience of the Thunderbird mascot is that most native people like it, while too many white people busy themselves getting offended on behalf of native people without bothering to ask the opinions of native people.
The Thunderbird is a wonderful mascot and should not have been removed. I can't begin to imagine how much it will cost to redo the logos, signage, etc. Keep it and use the money saved to pay down the debt.
Get past all the emotion and provide a factual update on how far along the district is in replacing the logo on gym floors etc. If the money has already been spent and we’re in a budget crisis, perhaps the deep pocketed Thunderbirds of yore can fundraise to pay to reverse all the work. As a taxpayer I don’t want my money wasted on spending money to reverse work already completed.
Everyone here should spend 15 minutes reading this site
https://www.ncai.org/proudtobe
As a district watcher (and also parent of a Shorewood senior), I’m puzzled as to why this issue is surfacing now. According to the Shoreline School Board 10/5/21 meeting minutes, there was district consultation with leaders from the Tulalip and Snoqualmie tribes that took place during the weeks preceding that meeting. The meeting minutes also describe how the school board student representative at the time had obtained feedback from their SW peers. These efforts demonstrated generally positive support of the name change - combined with the fact that this was a known topic circulating throughout the community as well. All to say: while I appreciate community advocacy and have been myself involved with a number of educational issues over the years, the emergence of the Thunderbird name change (during a time in which the district can barely keep staff employed to educate our children) is one that I question.
Good question. It is being brought up now because VERY FEW knew about it previously. Nothing was sent out to our community with the details. We had no idea that there could be a “conversation”. The school board and principal did not allow for it. I know those who wanted to go in and share and the principal told the “no!” This “has already been decided by the school board”. The school board even moved up the vote. The student representative sent out a “do you want to change the mascot” survey with NO history and a “yes”and no” vote. If you watch the zoom meeting you will hear her saying that all the students are excited about the change and approve of it. The leadership class was not given the information as the principal wouldn’t allow for the conversation. It was all so sneaky and deceitful. Don’t you think it should be brought up?? That it should be a learning experience for all?? Or just slide it under the carpet?
Thank you for your explanation as to why this issue is surfacing now, While I'm not sure if I agree with the descriptions of "sneaky" and "deceitful" to describe what had happened two years ago, I do agree that this particular school board could do a better job of reaching out to its community on many issues and understanding concerns.
Even if the school board could be convinced to reinstate the Thunderbird, does anyone know how much those changes would cost? Additionally, with respect to our students, I personally don't believe that learning opportunities were squandered with the school board vote. Our students learned why the state mandate was passed, and how to adapt and work with change as a result.
I must add that it's interesting that this petition is surfacing when the district has three school board director terms expiring this year.
I have JUST became aware of this now and heard the subject was going to be brought up in the school board meeting that happenned last night 1/14/23) . It sounds like the students back in 77-78 followed the letter of the current law without the government mandating them to do so.They had an overwhelming endorsement of the Suquamish as they also still have. Changing the name was a slap in the face to those alumni that so dilegently approached the tribe in adopting the name. In contrast the Shoreline Board, Principal and other powers that be, sought a name change and went to some tribes further out to get the answer they wanted to hear and denied the history of the school and the integrity of it's former students, in persuing an agenda. What does this teach our students?? This not to mention the cost this has incurred to the school district.
The removal of the Shorewood HS Thunderbird mascot involved several missteps and had notable negative repercussions, particularly in relation to celebrating local Native American tribes:
1. Lack of Community Engagement: The decision was made with minimal input from the community, including alumni, current students, and local tribes. This lack of engagement led to feelings of exclusion and disregard for the community's historical and cultural ties to the mascot.
2. Disregard for Historical Context: The original selection of the Thunderbird mascot was done respectfully and in consultation with local tribes. By not acknowledging this history, the school board missed an opportunity to educate and celebrate the respectful process that was initially undertaken.
3. **Hasty Decision-Making**: The decision to remove the mascot was perceived as rushed and arguably ignorant, driven by legislative changes without adequate consideration of the specific context and history of Shorewood's mascot. This haste undermined the potential for a thoughtful and inclusive dialogue.
4. Negative Impact on Tribal Relations: The removal without proper consultation with the tribes involved in the original selection process could be seen as a disservice to those tribes. It disregarded their input and the respectful relationship that had been established.
5. Missed Educational Opportunities: By not facilitating conversations with students and tribes, the school board missed a valuable opportunity to educate the school community about the cultural significance of the Thunderbird and the respectful process through which it was chosen.
6. **Community Division**: The decision has led to division within the community, with many feeling that their voices and the rich history of the mascot were not adequately considered.
Addressing these issues through a more inclusive, informed and respectful process could help in healing the community and honoring the cultural significance of the Thunderbird mascot.
Bring the Thunderbird back to its rightful place.
-Michael
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