Day 5

There are two options of schooling for the transitional period between elementary school and high school. There are Junior High Schools, grades 7-9, and Middle Schools, grades 6-8. In the curriculum at the Junior High Schools, students were introduced to more “vocational and commercial courses” (139). The Middle Schools are known for their “learning centers, language laboratories, and arts centers” (140). These schools focused a lot on the development during the early adolescent period.

In a blog found on edweek.org, “On Time Horizons and Education Outcomes”, written by Jeffrey R. Henig. (http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/futures_of_reform/2011/05/on_time_horizons_and_education_outcomes.html?cmp=ENL-EU-VIEWS2) The blog really focuses on making sure that the education reformers are aware of the actions they are taking and that they might be short term “fixers” rather than solutions to ongoing problems. Whether it is changes in the curriculum, class sizes, or subject matters studied it is important to see the grand picture and that maybe the “money-saving-way” would not be what is best for the students. During the adolescent period in a person there are a lot of changes going on in your life and they could really use some sort of stability, and maybe that could be found at school.

Before this year, I have not had much experience in a Middle School classroom. I have helped in my mom’s classroom at our local Middle School for a few hours during my time home on break from school, and I am aiding at Nathan Hale Middle School now. The experiences have taught me a lot and I have seen similarities and differences between the two. In terms of the teaching style, my mom tends to be drawn towards the struggling kids and the teacher I have been helping with here at school tends to want to push the struggling kids instead of taking a few moments to re-explain. It is important to remember that the adolescent years are a crucial period of growth. I would say that it is one of the most challenging times for students and they can go through a lot in their lives. It is important for people to be in their life, maybe outside of the house, guiding them towards making wise decisions that are, in reality, God honoring. Encouraging kids in their studies and praising them for their work is a great way to build those relationships that could lead to life-changing moments for the students. Teachers can really have an impact on the lives of students. During Middle School or Junior High, it is essential to really care about your students and build them up to be God honoring citizens and work towards the shalom  we all desire.

Native Americans went through a lot of changes in their history in terms of their education. Before the Columbian influence there was a very informal education and any knowledge was simply learned and shared within the tribe. Once European colonists arrived they tried to “civilize” the Native Americans by using their religious beliefs and Mission schools taught the basics of reading, writing, and religion. Finally, in the nineteenth century, the United States Government took control and pushed the Native Americans to reservations west of the Mississippi River. The goal was to instill the “white” values on them. The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs used boarding schools to put this assimilation education into place. While at these schools, they were not allowed to speak their native language and they were taught the basic curriculum of reading, writing, math, and vocational training. Some kids inactively accepted, accommodated, or completely resisted the routine of these schools. Eventually, the boarding schools were discontinued but the children who still lived on the reservations, and did not leave, went to private or public schools, BIA schools, or tribal schools. There was also an act, The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975, which took away the assimilation ideas and used a self-determination idea instead. They now promote the Native American’s right “to control their own education activities” (146).

Going back to the blog written on edweek.org, the author talked about view things through a “near-term” lens rather than “long-term”. I think that the United States might have thought that they were helping the Native Americans by introducing our culture and ideas so that they would be welcomed into our society. However, just as Henig was concerned about the education reformers not looking at an idea to fix things for good, I think the United States forgot to think about the emotional stress and loss of identity this forced education could cause.

I have had many lessons taught on this topic of assimilation of different groups and especially Native Americans. I do not think it is good to change people and want to have them conform their culture to be more like that of the United States. Even in thinking about teaching in a Spanish class one day, I might have native speakers, but I would encourage them to embrace that part of who they are and not try to take that away from them. In my hometown, many of the native-Spanish speakers do not take pride in their culture and they tend to accuse people of racism when the slightest thing is mentioned. God created us all for a purpose and we were made in His image. It is important to embrace everything that you are as a person and realize how beautifully each person was made in God’s eyes.