Dear ACR 150 Students,
I enjoyed reading your work on our Discussion Board for Post #3. As Cherry writes, following Szwed’s and Baker’s approaches to literacy, “Culture is made up of customs, attitudes, and beliefs that are unique to each group of people. It is ever changing.” Abdulkadir adds that “From examining different cultural perspectives, we can have a deeper understanding of different social issues and implement better solutions.” Silvia says “that literacy should be observed and how it should be motivating and inclusive to everyone as well.” Nina writes that modern education “imposes their own learning model on Natives and Alasca Indians. John F. Swede believes that people of the 21st century must learn to listen to the individual characteristics of a person and follow his desires. And on the basis of preferences and motivation, a desire to learn to read and write will be formed,” What can we learn if we apply this ethnographic approach to our study of literacy? As Marryam writes, “If we explore different cultural perspectives we can learn so much about literacy and culture. For example if we explore different cultures we can learn how each culture teaches, and try teaching the kids that way or including some teaching so the students that are from different cultures will want to learn too.” Valon adds, “When we explore cultures we can observe how the schooling system either benefits or fails them.” Janine concludes that “it is important to explore all different types of literacies from different cultural perspectives because if we step out of our comfort zone and explore another cultures perspective, we can see that humans pretty much have the same basic wants and no one should have the right to take that away, so it is everyone’s moral obligation to protect that.”
What, exactly, did you learn this week about the American Indian and the Alascan Native perspective on literacy? Elecia: “I learn that American Indians aren’t seeing the same growth in enrollment or attainment. That American childrens are often left out of the conversation about closing the “ achievement gap “. They are often faced with insttiutionalized discrimination and if this was not happen it would have helped improved their literary outcome.” Farangiz: “public schools create the impression of Native Americans as criminals, alcoholics, students finally have to change their schools, whether it private or Indian reservation schools and due to that American Indians and Alaskan indigenous people feel left out.” Debanie: “American India students are being neglected by the American public system, and as a result, do not have equal educational opportunities such as to college and other scholastic resources.” Sung says “This week we focused on the lifestyles of Native Americans and I noticed how much negative stigma they face. It really opened my eyes to how much history impacted a certain group of people.”
You also shared some great resources on this topic: Maya about “a girl who was in high school made herself known after feeling not heard,” Luis posts “a brief background on Native American’s educational history and how they have been affected over the years.” Ardit shares a video about “a few native students and their daily challenges when it comes to their education.” Joseph says, “If you’re looking to study how Native American’s try to learn in our school system, this paper might be right for you.” Natalie: “National Indian Education Study shows how this only nationwide study explores the native culture and helps those learn and succeed academically along with meet the same cultural needs in the classroom as they do at home.” Aylin finds “an article sheds light surrounding native american education and the trauma that they have endured and still continue to endure.”
Thank you for all your impressive work!
Prof. Barnes
