School District Faces an Impossible Choice in Fight Over Mascot Name

Feb 19, 2026

1 min

Alan J. Singer

Education Professor Alan Singer was interviewed by Newsday about the Connetquot School District on Long Island being threatened with funding cuts if it does not reinstate its old mascot name, the Thunderbirds.


The name change to T-Birds was made in 2022 to comply with the state’s ban on Native American mascots and other imagery in public schools.



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Alan J. Singer

Alan J. Singer

Professor of Teaching, Learning and Technology

Alan Singer specializes in social studies education and United States history.

Social Studies EducationUnited States HistoryHistory of SlaveryTeaching race. ethnicity and class