An elementary school in Claremont, Calif., was the scene of a protest and counter protest over the decision to ban kindergartners from wearing traditional Thanksgiving costumes. See the L.A. Times story here. Seems the Native American costumes were considered demeaning. It’s unfortunate that we don’t have pictures. (UPDATE: See picture here. Looks similar to what kindergartners in the LoHud will be wearing tomorrow… most likely the other costumes include standard-issue construction paper Pilgrim hat with big buckle and band with colorful construction paper feathers that our kids (and probably we) wore when we had our kindergarten Thanksgiving feast. (It’s downright amazing what a kindergarten teacher can do with construction paper. A few weeks ago, the kindergartners got off the school bus with their Johnny Appleseed construction paper hats. Cute! But I digress…)

This is not a new issue, sensitivity with Native American symbols, characters and garb. Nor is it one we haven’t dealt with here, recently. In 2002, state Education Commissioner Richard Mills recommended school districts do away with American Indian mascots. Ossining followed suit, taking he Riverhawk as their new mascot. In 2003, after much community debate (sometimes loud, angry debate) Nyack district decided to keep the Indian name, though they phased out the Indian logo, a staid profile. You still see bumper stickers around the Nyacks that say “Nyack Indians Forever,” which come from the original debate.

Back to the construction paper hats. Will your kids get off the school bus tomorrow as either a Pilgrim or an Indian? And do you have to back the pumpkin pie for the class Thanksgiving feast? And is there a way to teach small children about Thanksgiving without construction paper, symbols and mashed potatoes?