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Mascot Controversy
pngisd-port-neches-groves-mascot
The latest (of many) controversies involving the use by Port Neches-Groves ISD of Native American imagery as the districts’s mascot occurred during the high school band and drill team’s spring break performance at Disney World.

The drill team was informed by Disney officials that they were not allowed to wear the Indian headdress portion of their uniforms, but when they marched with the band, they performed the traditional school fight song, which includes the chant “Scalp ‘em Indians, Scalp ‘em.”

Disney World issued a widely reported statement saying that the performance did not reflect the company’s core values, and that an audition tape provided by the school was inconsistent with the actual performance.

The head of the Cherokee Nation criticized the district’s use of the imagery, symbolism and other practices as being offensive. The viral video of the performance drew nearly 2 million views on Twitter, and resulted in the district receiving at least 1,000 emails.

The district has contended that any changes to the mascot and related imagery would have to come from the school board, with input from the district’s community.

The education commissioner last year dismissed a complaint about PNGISD’s mascot and related symbols. The commissioner concluded he had no authority over school mascots.