D f I d AffD f I d AffDivision of Indian Affairs presentsDivision of Indian Affairs presents

“Utah’s American Indian Education Crisis”“Utah’s American Indian Education Crisis”

Information Series

FailureFailureFailureFailure

In the past, attempts have been made In the past, attempts have been made to help Indian People, but those to help Indian People, but those

h b b dh b b dattempts have been based upon attempts have been based upon prescribed methods of helping white prescribed methods of helping white

Americans.Americans.AA

Those “one size fits all” methods don’t work.Those “one size fits all” methods don’t work.

Ed ti C i iEd ti C i iEducation CrisisEducation Crisis

Indian student dropout rates in rural Indian student dropout rates in rural areas range from 60areas range from 60--80% statewide. 80% statewide.

The current state of education for Indian The current state of education for Indian children is appalling. They are

consistently at the bottom of everystandardized test given to Utah’s children.

I T S f U hI T S f U hIowa Test Scores for Utah Iowa Test Scores for Utah Grade 3 2006Grade 3 2006Grade 3 2006Grade 3 2006

68White

43

52

42

68

Hispanic

Pacific Islander

Children with Disabilities

White

68

54

43

43

Asian

Economically Disadvantaged

English Language Learners

Hispanic

51

45

68

African American

American Indian

Asian

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

I T S f U hI T S f U hIowa Test Scores for Utah Iowa Test Scores for Utah Grade 5 2006Grade 5 2006Grade 5 2006Grade 5 2006

67White

36

47

35

Hispanic

Pacific Islander

Children with Disabilities

68

52

39

Asian

Economically Disadvantaged

English Language Learners

47

41

African American

American Indian

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

I T S f U hI T S f U hIowa Test Scores for Utah Iowa Test Scores for Utah Grade 8 2006Grade 8 2006Grade 8 2006Grade 8 2006

61White

38

44

25

Hispanic

Pacific Islander

Children w ith Disabilities

63

47

37

Asian

Economically Disadvantaged

English Language Learners

p

41

35

63

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

African American

American Indian

Asian

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Iowa Test Scores for Utah Iowa Test Scores for Utah Grade 11 2006Grade 11 2006Grade 11 2006Grade 11 2006

43

25

62

Pacific Islander

Children with Disabilities

White

47

37

38

Economically Disadvantaged

English Language Learners

Hispanic

41

35

63

African American

American Indian

Asian

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Self Reliance

Once American Once American Once, American Once, American Indians were fully Indians were fully self reliant peopleself reliant people

Will b s lf li t g i so d ?Will b s lf li t g i so d ?Will we be self reliant again someday?Will we be self reliant again someday?

Cultural DifferencesCultural Differences

Typically, American Indians Typically, American Indians are right brain dominant, are right brain dominant, allowing for a culture rich in allowing for a culture rich in allowing for a culture rich in allowing for a culture rich in creativity and history. Right creativity and history. Right Brain dominance lends itself Brain dominance lends itself Brain dominance lends itself Brain dominance lends itself to a prolific oral tradition to a prolific oral tradition which has produced great which has produced great

S B ll communicators. communicators. Sitting Bull

Cultural DifferencesCultural Differences

IndiansIndiansCowboysCowboys MatriarchalMatriarchal SpiritualSpiritual

PatriarchalPatriarchal ScientificScientific

HolisticHolistic CooperativeCooperative Land held in commonLand held in common

LinearLinear CompetitiveCompetitive Ownership of landOwnership of land Land held in commonLand held in common

Harmony with natureHarmony with nature CreativeCreative

Ownership of landOwnership of land Control of natureControl of nature AnalyticalAnalytical

EgalitarianEgalitarianyy

HierarchyHierarchy

Ways to assistWays to assistPast efforts have been to eliminate Past efforts have been to eliminate right brain learning all togetherright brain learning all together

Goal should be Goal should be establish balance establish balance establish balance establish balance

and utilization of all and utilization of all parts of the mindparts of the mindparts of the mindparts of the mind

Information ProcessingInformation ProcessingInformation ProcessingInformation ProcessingMany culturally different people process Many culturally different people process

information differently. Consequently, any information differently. Consequently, any instructional methods and programs that instructional methods and programs that instructional methods and programs that instructional methods and programs that emphasize psychoemphasize psycho--motor development or motor development or

techniques that open passages or neurological techniques that open passages or neurological techniques that open passages or neurological techniques that open passages or neurological pathways are most effective.pathways are most effective.

Programs that HelpPrograms that Helpg pg p

Brain Gym Brain Gym Auditory Discrimination EndepthAuditory Discrimination EndepthAuditory Discrimination EndepthAuditory Discrimination EndepthGlen Doman ICPD methodsGlen Doman ICPD methodsBrain TrainBrain TrainBrain TrainBrain Train

Other Effective approachesOther Effective approachesOther Effective approachesOther Effective approaches

Small student teacher ratios Gamingg keyboarding

Achievement GapAchievement Gap

These cultural differences contribute These cultural differences contribute to the education achievement gap to the education achievement gap which contributes to problems in which contributes to problems in pp

Indian communitiesIndian communities

Cycle of DefeatCycle of DefeatCycle of DefeatCycle of DefeatSocial Dysfunction: Social Dysfunction: Highly complex Highly complex yyeconomic plight, economic plight, criminal behavior, criminal behavior, substance abuse substance abuse

g y pg y pgovernmental andgovernmental and

corporate business models corporate business models launched without an launched without an substance abuse, substance abuse,

maladministrationmaladministration educated/trained educated/trained workforceworkforce

Mismanagement, Mismanagement, Delinquency, Delinquency,

Negligence, ExploitationNegligence, Exploitation

Pyramid of SuccessPyramid of SuccessBusiness

Development

QualityQuality Management Management & Governance& Governance

p

Leadership & Community Leadership & Community D lD l

& Governance& Governance

EDUCATION Foundation

DevelopmentDevelopment

EDUCATION - Foundation

Indian EducationIndian Education Innovative ProgramsInnovative Programs

I di Ed i R h & L iI di Ed i R h & L i Indian Education Research & LearningIndian Education Research & LearningTheoryTheory

Curriculum DevelopmentCurriculum Development Curriculum DevelopmentCurriculum Development Elementary and Secondary Teacher Elementary and Secondary Teacher

TrainingTraininggg Leadership/Empowerment TrainingLeadership/Empowerment Training Financial Assistance to Financial Assistance to

Schools/ScholarshipsSchools/Scholarships

L d hiL d hiLeadership Leadership FocusFocusFocusFocus

Interpersonal Skills Development for Tribal Interpersonal Skills Development for Tribal Leaders and potential future Tribal LeadersLeaders and potential future Tribal LeadersLeaders and potential future Tribal LeadersLeaders and potential future Tribal Leaders

Determination of Community ReadinessDetermination of Community Readiness

GovernanceGovernanceStrengthen management skills:

••Personnel policies and procedures Personnel policies and procedures Personnel policies and procedures Personnel policies and procedures

••Financial policies and procedures Financial policies and procedures

P d l P d l ••Property and supply managementProperty and supply management

••Single Audit RequirementsSingle Audit Requirements

••Indirect Cost principlesIndirect Cost principles

••Reporting via performance and financial report Reporting via performance and financial report Reporting via performance and financial report Reporting via performance and financial report writingwriting

Business skills trainingBusiness skills trainingTechnical and professional assistance to tribes in the following areas:tribes in the following areas:

marketing analysis marketing analysis feasibility plans feasibility plans feasibility plans feasibility plans business plans business plans troubletrouble--shooting business failureshooting business failure long range economic development long range economic development

planningplanning financing information (federal, state, and financing information (federal, state, and financing information (federal, state, and financing information (federal, state, and

private sources), and affordable housing.private sources), and affordable housing.

Choctaw Model of SuccessChoctaw Model of Success

1969A h li 6A h li 6thth d l ld l l Average schooling 6Average schooling 6thth grade levelgrade level

No education offered after 10No education offered after 10thth grade and no kindergartengrade and no kindergarten

70% without basic housing needs covered70% without basic housing needs coveredggNo running water or indoor plumbing, homelessness highNo running water or indoor plumbing, homelessness high

80% unemployment rate 80% unemployment rate –– those employed are those employed are sharecropperssharecropperssharecropperssharecroppers

$600 average yearly income$600 average yearly income

Alcoholism, teen pregnancy, substance and domestic abuse Alcoholism, teen pregnancy, substance and domestic abuse commonplacecommonplacecommonplacecommonplace

Building a FoundationBuilding a Foundation1969-1985

P i h i i d d d P i h i i d d d Put in their own superintendent and restructured Put in their own superintendent and restructured education and standardized curriculumeducation and standardized curriculum

Opened adult education programOpened adult education program Opened adult education programOpened adult education programTaught classes in Family life, home Taught classes in Family life, home

management, thrift and economy, agricultural management, thrift and economy, agricultural g , y, gg , y, gscience, preservation of wildlife and natural science, preservation of wildlife and natural resourcesresources

O d Y h R h bili i CO d Y h R h bili i C Opened Youth Rehabilitation CenterOpened Youth Rehabilitation Center

IndustryIndustry1979 - 1995

Planned 30 acre industrial park Planned 30 acre industrial park Planned 30 acre industrial park Planned 30 acre industrial park Established Chahta Enterprise as supplier for Established Chahta Enterprise as supplier for

Packard ElectricPackard Electric American Greetings opened a plantAmerican Greetings opened a plant Choctaw Manufacturing openedChoctaw Manufacturing opened Printing/direct mail/telemarketing firm Printing/direct mail/telemarketing firm Printing/direct mail/telemarketing firm Printing/direct mail/telemarketing firm American PlasticsAmerican Plastics Silver Star Casino (most recent economic Silver Star Casino (most recent economic

d l )d l )development)development)

TodayToday 22ndnd largest employer in State of Mississippilargest employer in State of Mississippi 12 000 jobs; 172 6 million payroll taxes12 000 jobs; 172 6 million payroll taxes 12,000 jobs; 172.6 million payroll taxes12,000 jobs; 172.6 million payroll taxes 5.8 mil property tax5.8 mil property tax Prestigious Hammer award for outstanding Prestigious Hammer award for outstanding Prestigious Hammer award for outstanding Prestigious Hammer award for outstanding

education reformeducation reform 85% speak Choctaw as their primary language, 85% speak Choctaw as their primary language, g gg g

English secondEnglish second Bok Chitto Elementary selected to be a world Bok Chitto Elementary selected to be a world

fi li t f I t ti l h l C b f ifi li t f I t ti l h l C b f ifinalist for International schools Cyberfairfinalist for International schools Cyberfair

Ending StatementsEnding StatementsEnding StatementsEnding Statements

Indian youth are our greatest resourceIndian youth are our greatest resourceAnonymousAnonymous

If we lose this generation we lose the pastIf we lose this generation we lose the past If we lose this generation, we lose the pastIf we lose this generation, we lose the pastLeland Pubigee (NW Band Shoshone)Leland Pubigee (NW Band Shoshone)

Children are sacred beingsChildren are sacred beingsggThe Late Patricia Locke (LakotaThe Late Patricia Locke (Lakota))

The humiliation of children is the greatest evilThe humiliation of children is the greatest evilElie WieselElie Wiesel (Nobel Laureate and Holocaust survivor)(Nobel Laureate and Holocaust survivor)

1010--year Planyear Plan Leadership trainingLeadership trainingGovernance trainingGovernance trainingBusiness DevelopmentBusiness Development Post High AcademyPost High AcademyReplication of Choctaw Success ModelReplication of Choctaw Success ModelReplication of Choctaw Success ModelReplication of Choctaw Success Model Substance Abuse and Mental Health Substance Abuse and Mental Health

OutreachOutreachOutreachOutreach

Sources Conetah, Fred E. A History of the Northern Ute People, Salt Lake City:

University of Utah Press, 1982 Cuch, Forrest S. A History of Utah’s American Indians, Utah State y

University Press, 2000. DiBacco, Mason, Appy. History of the United States, NY: Hooten Mifflin

Co, 1991. Jennings Francis The Invasion of America NY: Norton 1975 Jennings, Francis. The Invasion of America. NY: Norton, 1975. Johansen, Bruce E. Forgotten Founders. Boston: Harvard Common Press,

1982. Loewen, James. Lies My Teacher Told Me. NY: Simon, 1995.y U.S. Census Report for 2000. Weatherford, Jack. Indian Givers. NY: Fawcett Columbine Co., 1988. Purple Martin Domestication Copyright 1997 by Purple Martin

C ti A i tiConservation Association

Contact InformationDivision of Indian Affairs324 S. State Street, Suite 500324 S. State Street, Suite 500Salt Lake City, Utah 84111801 538-8808