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                                               Education on Native American Reservations

Introduction:

- INTRODUCE TOPIC:

Education on Native American Reservations is a major problem. 

- MAKE SURE TO ESTABLISH CREDIBILITY: 

My credibility: I am a Native American from the Ojibwa tribe in Ontario, Canada.  Although I do not live on the reservation or go to the reservation school systems, I have an insight to what life and education is like on the reserve.  My cousin, Cami, who is the same age as me, lives on the indian reservation.  There is no school to go to for high school on the reserve, so she travels about 30 minutes away to go to a public school off of the reserve in Thunder Bay, ON.  By visiting her each summer, I get a different perspective than the one I have and really understand the challenging reservation life. 

- MAKE SURE TO RELATE TOPIC TO THE AUDIENCE:

Connection: Even though we go to a private school (Cheshire Academy), we are all students and have an understand of what trying to get educated is like. However, Native American kids on reservation schools have a more so difficult experience at school compared to most kids here attending Cheshire academy. 

BACKGROUND-

Daily Life- (AI= American Indians  AN= Alaskan Natives) http://www.niea.org/research/statistics.aspx

- In 2012, 29.1% of AI/ANs (alone) lived in poverty - the highest rate of any race group - compared to 15.9% for the entire nation. (2012 American Community Survey)  

- In 2011, 52% of AI/AN (alone) children lived in two-parent households, compared to 75% of Whites (alone). (Aud, Hussar, Johnson, et al., 2012)

Body: 

FACTS (Ethos/Logos)

A Schools/Education- http://www.niea.org/research/statistics.aspx

- Some Reservation Schools are so bad that the natives go to public school system-- During the 2007-08 school year, there were 741 public schools located in AI/AN areas, with 82,406 AI/AN students. (Common Core of Data, 2008)

- During the 2010-11 school year, there were 49,152 students in Bureau of Indian Education Schools. (Bureau of Indian Education, 2011)

- BIE oversees 183 elementary, secondary, residential, and peripheral dormitories in 23 states. (Bureau of Indian Education, 2011)

- During the 2011-12 school year, private school student enrollment was 0.5% for AI/AN (alone) students, compared to 71.2% for White (alone) students. (Broughman & Swaim, 2013)

- Slow improvement-- Between 2005 and 2011, the achievement gaps between AI/AN and non-AI/AN fourth graders and between AI/AN and non-AI/AN eighth graders did not change for reading, but increased for mathematics. (National Center for Education Statistics, 2012)

- Indian kids need more help in school-- In 2009, 19% of AI/AN 9th grade females received special education services, compared to the national rate of 7% for all 9th grade females, and 8% for White 9th grade females. In the same year, 27% of AI/AN 9th grade males received special education services, compared to the national average of 13% for all 9th grade males, and 13% for White males. (Ross, Kena, Rathbun, et al., 2012)

Story (Establishing Pathos)

http://www.edweek.org/ew/projects/2013/native-american-education/running-in-place.html#losing-ground

Luzahan White Horse- 

- age 19

- graduated from Pine Ridge High School- June 2012 (took him an extra year to graduate)

- Year later: most of his days are spent playing basketball with his friends and doesn't have a steady or "formal" job ("I make money, I get by" - White Horse) 

- Kids don't like reservation school education: ("I mostly went to school to chill with my friends because there's nothing else to do on the rez" - White Horse)

- Kids also don't see thier lives changing: (But I don't see that my life is going to be that much different in 10 years. I'll probably still be here, playing basketball" - Pine Ridge Indian)

Statistics: http://www.edweek.org/ew/projects/2013/native-american-education/running-in-place.html#losing-ground

- South Dakota has the highest proportion of Native American students that in any other state.  But, the students are not nearly as advanced academically as others.  

2012-2013:

Math- 

- 42% American Indians achieved "proficient" or "advanced"

^ compared to 80% of whites 

Reading- 

- 47% scored level of proficient and above 

^ compared to 79% of white students scores 

4 Year Graduation Rate (2013): 

- 49% of American Indian students graduated 

High school completion rate: 

- 64%  (still 17% or more than other subgroups in South Dakota) 

Federal Cuts: 

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/12/04/13sequestration_ep.h33.html 

K-8 School Loneman School on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota (2013)- 

- laid off 12 staff members/20 percent of its staff 

- The 20% included included three of six middle school teachers (half of the middle school teachers said Principal Charles Cuny Jr.

Lac du Flambeau (school)

- cut one of two educators that was meant to teach students the Ojibwe language (the language they have to speak)

- "The Washington-based organization surveyed 161 Indian-lands districts that receive Impact Aid. Of that number, 144, or nearly 90 percent, had made cuts in the 2013-14 school year. More than half—78—put off maintenance and purchases and 56 slashed instructional positions."

Takeaway: 

People on Native American Indian reservations don't always live a good life.  They live in poverty, and education isn't ideal.  This problem of Native American's education needs to be recognized more amongst people in the United States.  We have the ability to change the world, and this is a way to start.  With help, Native Americans can get a better education and be more successful in life.  But, they need someone to give them a push and help.