After taking a social studies class to heart, a group of Springfield Renaissance 8th graders are urging schools to drop their Native American nicknames.

It's a symbol of victory. Several banners hang from the walls of the Turners Fall High School gymnasium, showcasing championships from years past.

For as long as alumnus can remember, they've been the Indians of Turners Falls High. But some are saying that name is a symbol of hate.

"Does anyone honestly think that lowering America's indigenous people to the level of a mascot, respects and doesn't discriminate against America's culture and race," asks one Springfield student.

One by one, Marissa Vanasse's 8th grade social studies class made their case for all teams, high school to pro, to drop their Native American nicknames.

"It hurt to understand that people could be so stereotypical and unjust and not understand it, so I wanted to help send the message out," says Maya McCann.

"Just picturing my ethnicity group to be a mascot, most Latinos won't like that," Leslie Perez says.

But this 8th grade class wasn't from Turners Falls, not even from Franklin County.

Instead, they were from Springfield's Renaissance School. They picked up on the Turners tomahawk chop controversy, which is a common game day sight that's been suspended by the school.

The chop's future is in the hands of the school committee. Now that other students are on board, they're hoping it might sway their Turners Falls students.

"When students are talking to students, it gets across to the students in a different way from adults talking to students," says Kenneth Rocke, superintendent of Turners Falls High School.

42 schools in the state have Native American nicknames, and in the coming days, all will hear from the Renaissance group.

At Turners Falls, school committee members tell us the decision on the tomahawk chop is expected to be made before May 11.

As for the school's nickname, that hasn't been taken up yet, but they do tell us, the Renaissance presentation, got them thinking.