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Port Neches–Groves High School

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Coordinates: 29°59′24″N 93°57′14″W / 29.989999°N 93.953947°W / 29.989999; -93.953947
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Port Neches-Groves High School
Address
Map
1401 Merriman Street

Port Neches
,
Texas
77651

United States
Coordinates29°59′24″N 93°57′14″W / 29.989999°N 93.953947°W / 29.989999; -93.953947
Information
TypePublic
Established1925
School districtPort Neches-Groves ISD
SuperintendentMike Gonzales
PrincipalScott Ryan
Enrollment1,476 (2020-2021)[1]
Student to teacher ratio13.8[1]
Color(s)Purple and white   
Athletics conferenceUniversity Interscholastic League Class 5A
Websitewww.pngisd.org/hs

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

Port Neches–Groves High School students during a half-time performance in December 2020
Inflatable war bonnet used for team entrances at football games

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][11][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 whether it dates back to Chief Swimmer who served in the late 70s to the early 80s 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."[14] 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.[14] The high school has deleted many of its social media accounts.[14][15]

State championships

  • Football
    • 1953(3A), 1955(3A), 1975(4A)[16]
  • Volleyball
    • 1972(4A), 1979(4A), 1981(5A)[17]

Notable alumni

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "PORT NECHES-GROVES H S". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e "A HISTORY OF THE PORT NECHES INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 2, 2006. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
  3. ^ Holmes-Brown, Shaniece (13 December 2022). "Former students want the Native American mascot at a Texas high school removed". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  4. ^ Brent, Kim (7 July 2019). "Handmade headdresses a labor of love for Indianettes". Beaumont Enterprise. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  5. ^ a b Reporter, CHAD HUNTER (27 August 2020). "CN calls for retirement of Texas school's Indian mascot". cherokeephoenix.org. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  6. ^ Libardi, Manuella (10 November 2015). "PN-G responds to Adidas' offer to change Indian mascot". Beaumont Enterprise. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  7. ^ Windes, Isaac; Faye, Matt; Brent, Kim (9 July 2020). "PN-G not budging as Cherokee chief demands removal of Indian mascot". Beaumont Enterprise.
  8. ^ Edwards, Schaefer (11 August 2020). "Port Neches-Groves High's Cheerleaders Yell "Scalp 'em!" While Others Call Foul". Houston Press. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  9. ^ Ellsworth, Meagan (7 September 2022). "Activists call schools to forfeit football games to protest local mascot". Beaumont Enterprise. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  10. ^ "'Indianettes' Drill Team Not Allowed to Wear War Bonnets, But Are Allowed to Chant 'Scalp 'Em' During Magic Kingdom Performance". WDW News Today. 2022-03-16. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  11. ^ a b c Skinner, Paige. "A Texas High School Drill Team Is Being Criticized For Doing A Racist Chant Against Native Americans During A Disney World Routine". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Disney sorry about performance by Texas high school drill team". Tampa Bay Times. Associated Press. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  13. ^ Maruf, Ramishah. "Disney said it regrets racist cheer by high school team". CNN. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  14. ^ a b c d Nguyen, Rosie (24 March 2022). "Port Neches-Groves High School faces backlash following controversial Disney World performance". ABC13 Houston. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  15. ^ Skelton, Eleanor (12 May 2022). "Protestors attend third Port Neches-Groves board meeting". Beaumont Enterprise. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  16. ^ UIL Football Archives
  17. ^ UIL Volleyball Archives Archived 2012-03-06 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ Robbins, Kevin. "Davis has built a career molding offenses, moving on". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  19. ^ Murrell, I.C. "PNG graduate Lew Ford, 43, takes home Atlantic League player-of-month honor". The News. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  20. ^ Moore, Chris (July 17, 2022). "Texas football coach refers to Roschon Johnson as "alpha" leader for Longhorns". The Port Arthur News. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  21. ^ McDonald, Archie P. (2008). Water, Rails & Oil: Historic Mid & South Jefferson County. HPN Books. p. 46. ISBN 978-1-893619-60-9.
  22. ^ Meaux, Mary (13 July 2022). "Late actor L.Q. Jones found home in Mid County before tremendous Hollywood success". Port Arthur News. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  23. ^ "Wade Phillips :: Football Coach :: Biography". Wade Phillips. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013.
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