Indigenous Persons

4 Pages 997 Words

Charter Schools for American Indians




· Introduction

In this article we looked at the school system and how it is not working for the Native Americans in it. So, in hopes to find something that would work for them, charter schools were brought into the public eye of the Native Americans. There was a “narrowness of the system that controls the education process.” (1972) They need a change and this type of classroom was felt to be able to give that attention to heritage and culture.

“The charter school movement is a reform through which American Indians can gain back their sovereignty.” “Not to look at what we each necessarily but how we teach it. “These schools are what the Native American people had been asking for over a century.”(2000)

The author of this piece gives us enlightenment on the subject of charter schools. He introduces us to a teacher who is in the chater school system and lets her shed light on what we are gearing up for. She tells us the factors that go into a classroom and she tells us what she expects in a classroom. What we aren’t told is how is this working for the student (in student opinion) and what exactly could happen if this style took over for Indigenous persons?

To make change is success enough. To improve relations between the students, teachers, and community is of importance. To become sensitive to students and families needs in a school system is another goal. There are many goals for and to change. There are many questions to get answers to and many more classrooms to look at. When we talk of education reform we talk about what is needed for testing.

What we need to be looking at is are the students learning in a school designed to be rich in culture and in sensitivity. Are the skills needed for testing in public schools being surpassed in this specialized environment?



· Argument

Indigenous students will learn in an environment that...