Paterson Principal’s Thanksgiving Comment Draws Scrutiny

Officials are investigating whether a New Jersey principal told students American Indians were scalped during the first Thanksgiving.

A recording of an announcement purportedly made by John F. Kennedy Educational Complex principal of operations Amod Field is circulating among teachers in Paterson.

In a copy obtained by The Record newspaper, a man can be heard saying:

"We must very, very, very, very understanding to our Native Americans, who lost and sacrificed because of the scalping that took place on Thanksgiving. They were invited to a dinner, and then their lives were taken from them."

Field at first told the newspaper altered tapes had been sent out. He later said he remembered telling students to "remember the need to be sensitive" and "lives were lost" at an early Thanksgiving.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.