ERIC Number: ED018283
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1968-Mar-7
Pages: 7
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
U.S. SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS LEARN OF NAVAJO "REVOLUTION".
BENHAM, WILLIAM J., JR.
NAVAJO CULTURE AND LANGUAGE ARE QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF OTHER AMERICANS, AND HELP TO ACCOUNT FOR GENERALLY LOW SUCCESS OF NAVAJO CHILDREN IN THE CLASSROOM. BY NOVEMBER 1966, WHEN TITLE I OF THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT HAD BECOME AVAILABLE TO FEDERAL SCHOOLS, THE NAVAJO TRIBAL COUNCIL'S EDUCATION COMMITTEE HAD DECIDED THAT WHAT THE STUDENTS NEEDED MOST WAS A BETTER COMMAND OF ENGLISH AND AN IMPROVED SELF IMAGE. AFTER DETERMINING THAT A LINGUISTIC APPROACH GREATLY FACILITATED ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL) LEARNING, CONSULTANTS WERE HIRED TO HELP IN PLANNING AND EVALUATING ESL PROGRAMS FOR THE TRIBE. TWO RESERVATION ESL TRAINING CENTERS, EXPANDED IN-SERVICE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, NDEA WORKSHOPS, AND CONSULTANTS WERE ALL UTILIZED TO AID IN TEACHER TRAINING AND GROWTH. BUS TRIPS OFF THE RESERVATION CONTRIBUTED TO STUDENT LANGUAGE ENRICHMENT. A CONTRACT HAS BEEN MADE WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO TO DEVELOP NAVAJO SOCIAL STUDIES UNITS UTILIZING A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH AIMED AT DEVELOPING PROPER APPRECIATION BY NAVAJOS OF THEIR CULTURAL HERITAGE. OTHER PROGRAMS HAVE SOUGHT TO INVOLVE NAVAJO PARENTS IN THEIR CHILDREN'S SCHOOLING, AND THERE IS A MOVEMENT TOWARD FORMATION OF RESERVATION SCHOOL BOARDS COMPOSED OF INDIAN RESIDENTS. THIS ARTICLE APPEARED IN, "NAVAJO TIMES," WINDOW ROCK, ARIZONA, MARCH 7, 1968. (BR)
Publication Type: N/A
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: N/A
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Navajo Tribe Public Relations and Information Dept., Window Rock, AZ.
Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs: Economic Opportunity Act 1964; Elementary and Secondary Education Act; Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title I
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A