Port Neches–Groves High School Explained

Port Neches-Groves High School
Principal:Scott Ryan
Superintendent:Mike Gonzales
Type:Public
Established:1925
Enrollment:1,627 (2022-2023)[1]
Ratio:14.22
Address:1401 Merriman Street
City:Port Neches
State:Texas
Zipcode:77651
Country:United States
Conference:University Interscholastic League Class 5A
Colors:Purple and white
District:Port Neches-Groves ISD
Coordinates:29.99°N -93.9539°W

Port Neches–Groves High School (PNG) is located in Port Neches, Texas. It is the only high school in the Port Neches-Groves Independent School District and serves portions of Port Neches, Groves, and Port Arthur. It was built in 1925.[2]

History

Port Neches High School, the predecessor to Port Neches–Groves High School, was built in 1925 at a cost of approximately $175,000. The Indian mascot and the purple and white school colors were chosen around this time.[2]

The Indianettes dance team was founded in 1951, with the marching band, "Indian Spirit" mascot, and adoption of the fight song "Cherokee" being implemented over the following decade. A student serving as the drum major, Lynne James née Jeffrey, wrote the lyrics to the fight song. She later became the principal of Port Neches Middle School in the early 2000s.[2]

The current Port Neches High School on Merriman Street was first used in 1953, with the original high school building becoming Port Neches Junior High.[2] The current name of the school was adopted in 1956.[2]

Athletics

Mascot controversy

The high school's "Indian" mascot has garnered controversy for being racist and culturally insensitive, in line with a greater trend in the United States.[3] These depictions include the use of the chant "Scalp 'Em", referring to the school's football field as "the reservation", and cheerleaders crafting and wearing ersatz war bonnets, among others.[4] No residents of Port Neches or Groves identify as solely American Indian.[5] The school administration has repeatedly stated they would not change their traditions or mascot, including turning down a general offer from Adidas to provide free design resources and financial assistance to change the imagery.[6] [7]

In 2020, the Cherokee Nation called for the school to discontinue its use of the mascot. This was a change from a 1979 certificate from then-Principal Chief Ross Swimmer recognizing the high school as "ambassadors of goodwill," with the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation Chuck Hoskin Jr. stating that the mascot and imagery "perpetuate inaccurate misconceptions of Native American culture and invokes ideations of savagery which only perpetuates harmful stereotypes and inaccurately depicts our culture."[5] [8] [9]

In March 2022, the school's "Indianettes" drill team chanted the phrase "Scalp 'Em" during a performance at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom after being told they would not be allowed to wear their war bonnets.[10] [11] Disney released a statement condemning the performance and stating the Indianettes had not been in the school's audition tape.[12] [13] [14] In the wake of the controversy, the Cherokee Nation renewed its demand that the high school drop the mascot and end its Indian-related traditions. Principal Chief Hoskin stated "I can tell you no Chief of the Cherokee Nation, whether it's me or [...] Chief Swimmer [...] would condone the kind of imagery or depiction of Native peoples that we see PNG not only do, but stubbornly refuse to even consider that those displays are offensive," he said. "They're not authentic. They have no connection to the Cherokee people, in fact, in many ways make a mockery of our wonderful and beautiful traditions." Hoskin's statement was echoed by the Vice-Chair of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, whose original lands would have included the area of Port Neches. The high school has deleted many of its social media accounts.[15]

State championships

Notable alumni

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: PORT NECHES-GROVES H S. National Center for Education Statistics. June 17, 2024.
  2. Web site: A HISTORY OF THE PORT NECHES INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT . 2007-09-12 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20061202140331/http://www.pngisd.org/about/history.pdf . December 2, 2006 .
  3. News: Holmes-Brown . Shaniece . Former students want the Native American mascot at a Texas high school removed . 14 December 2022 . Houston Chronicle . 13 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221214021057/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/port-neches-groves-high-school-mascot-change-17586807.php . 14 December 2022.
  4. Web site: Brent . Kim . Handmade headdresses a labor of love for Indianettes . Beaumont Enterprise . 18 March 2022 . 7 July 2019.
  5. Web site: Reporter . CHAD HUNTER . CN calls for retirement of Texas school's Indian mascot . 2022-03-17 . cherokeephoenix.org . 27 August 2020 . en.
  6. News: Libardi . Manuella . PN-G responds to Adidas' offer to change Indian mascot . 18 March 2022 . Beaumont Enterprise . 10 November 2015.
  7. News: Windes . Isaac . Faye . Matt . Brent . Kim . PN-G not budging as Cherokee chief demands removal of Indian mascot . Beaumont Enterprise . 9 July 2020.
  8. News: Edwards . Schaefer . Port Neches-Groves High's Cheerleaders Yell "Scalp 'em!" While Others Call Foul . 18 March 2022 . Houston Press . 11 August 2020 . en.
  9. News: Ellsworth . Meagan . Activists call schools to forfeit football games to protest local mascot . 18 November 2022 . Beaumont Enterprise . 7 September 2022.
  10. Web site: 2022-03-16 . 'Indianettes' Drill Team Not Allowed to Wear War Bonnets, But Are Allowed to Chant 'Scalp 'Em' During Magic Kingdom Performance . 2022-03-17 . WDW News Today . en-US.
  11. News: Skinner . Paige . A Texas High School Drill Team Is Being Criticized For Doing A Racist Chant Against Native Americans During A Disney World Routine . 21 March 2022 . BuzzFeed News . en.
  12. News: Associated Press . Disney sorry about performance by Texas high school drill team . 21 March 2022 . Tampa Bay Times . en.
  13. News: Maruf . Ramishah . Disney said it regrets racist cheer by high school team . 21 March 2022 . CNN.
  14. News: Nguyen . Rosie . Port Neches-Groves High School faces backlash following controversial Disney World performance . 25 March 2022 . ABC13 Houston . 24 March 2022 . en.
  15. News: Skelton . Eleanor . Protestors attend third Port Neches-Groves board meeting . 15 July 2022 . Beaumont Enterprise . 12 May 2022.
  16. Web site: 1953 Football Conference 3A . uiltexas.org . December 20, 2023.
  17. Web site: 1953 Football Conference 3A . uiltexas.org . December 20, 2023.
  18. Web site: 1975 Football Conference 4A . uiltexas.org . December 20, 2023.
  19. Web site: 2023 Football Conference 5A Division 2 . uiltexas.org . December 20, 2023.
  20. Web site: 1971-1972 4A Volleyball State Results . uiltexas.org . December 20, 2023.
  21. Web site: 1979-1980 4A Volleyball State Results . uiltexas.org . December 20, 2023.
  22. Web site: 1981-1982 5A Volleyball State Results . uiltexas.org . December 20, 2023.
  23. News: Davis has built a career molding offenses, moving on . Robbins . Kevin . September 21, 2012 . Austin American-Statesman . March 22, 2022.
  24. News: PNG graduate Lew Ford, 43, takes home Atlantic League player-of-month honor . Murrell . I.C. September 6, 2019 . . 22 March 2022.
  25. News: Texas football coach refers to Roschon Johnson as "alpha" leader for Longhorns . Moore . Chris . July 17, 2022 . . September 16, 2022.
  26. Book: McDonald, Archie P. . Water, Rails & Oil: Historic Mid & South Jefferson County . 2008 . HPN Books . 978-1-893619-60-9 . 46 . en.
  27. News: Late actor L.Q. Jones found home in Mid County before tremendous Hollywood success . Meaux . Mary . July 13, 2022 . . July 15, 2022 . en.
  28. Web site: Wade Phillips :: Football Coach :: Biography . Wade Phillips . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131216190749/http://www.wadephillips.net/biographyht.htm . December 16, 2013.
  29. Web site: Indians' Carson Roccaforte earns All-State mention. The Port Arthur News. I.C.. Murrell. August 2, 2019. August 4, 2024.

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