Post by Okwes on Feb 8, 2006 10:54:29 GMT -5
American Indian charter school in Ore. curbs dropout rate
10:31 AM PST on Monday, February 6, 2006
By KATHY ANEY, AP Contributor
MISSION, Ore. -- Upon first glance, it looks like a typical public
school classroom. A dozen teenage students lean over their desks and
ponder test questions while their teacher, Mary Green, grades papers at
her desk.
File photo
Look closer and you notice some intriguing differences.
President Bush smiles from a poster on the wall, not unusual until you
read the text below -- "wanichi Push" -- which is President Bush in the
Umatilla Indian language.
The word joins a host of other vocabulary words including "yulama"
(cheerleaders) and "tipawalukwilkiwilama" (football team).
Nearby, Syreeta Thompson raises her head from her paper as the baby in a
carrier at her feet starts crying. Syreeta picks up the infant, rummages
for a bottle and starts feeding it.
The baby is actually a life-size doll that cries periodically to
indicate when she's stressed.
Syreeta must figure out what's wrong and respond by feeding, diapering
or rocking her.
While the program is common in high schools to impress upon students how
much is involved in caring for infants, this doll is a little different
than the typical model. It's American Indian.
Outside the classroom, in the hallway, vivid posters recount historical
events -- not the American Revolution or the Battle of the Bulge, rather
the Battle of Little Bighorn, the Indian Removal Act of 1830 and other
events especially important in American Indian circles.
The Nixyaawii Charter School emphasizes American Indian language and
culture. Students study native tongues, choosing to learn either Nez
Perce, Walla Walla or Cayuse dialects.
Most of the school's 65 students are American Indian.
Chartered in July 2004, the school sought to turn around a horrendously
high dropout rate among American Indian students and to bring native
languages and culture back from the brink.
Principal Annie Tester, a multi-tasker extraordinaire, scrambled to pull
a curriculum together and develop a plan of operation before the
school's doors opened.
"There was nothing in place," she said, remembering that she went
without pay for two months because the school had no one to take care of
the books. "It's pretty daunting to open up a new school."
Over time, the school invented itself. Tester watched with fascination
as the year progressed, systems were put in place and students responded
to the school's unique curriculum.
By the end of Nixyaawii's maiden year, Tester was encouraged. Student
dropout rates were down, grades were up and attendance statistics showed
radical improvement.
Tester says attendance is key.
"We call. We pick them up," she said. "They don't fall through the
cracks."
Graduation was an emotional affair. Three chiefs led a procession of six
graduates into the gym, which was filled to capacity. Many in the
audience brushed tears away as they listened to each student speak.
"You could feel the pride," Tester said. "The walls of the gym expanded
with the pride."
This year, Tester's days are a blur of activity as she visits with
students and staff, grades papers, crunches numbers, delivers lunches
and hustles to complete a thousand other things that are part of life as
a small school principal.
But the systems are in place, curriculum is coming together and the
school shines brightly for other tribes who might want to follow suit.
The Warm Springs Indian Reservation has watched Nixyaawii's progress
with interest and appears headed down the same path.
The last installment of the initial Oregon Department of Education
startup grant of $350,000 has been paid, but the school's financial
footing seems solid. Nixyaawii had a carry-over of more than $100,000
this year.
Tester gets emotional when she thinks about her students and the strong
bonds that continue to strengthen.
"They trust you if you earn their trust," Tester said. "It takes a while
to build that."
10:31 AM PST on Monday, February 6, 2006
By KATHY ANEY, AP Contributor
MISSION, Ore. -- Upon first glance, it looks like a typical public
school classroom. A dozen teenage students lean over their desks and
ponder test questions while their teacher, Mary Green, grades papers at
her desk.
File photo
Look closer and you notice some intriguing differences.
President Bush smiles from a poster on the wall, not unusual until you
read the text below -- "wanichi Push" -- which is President Bush in the
Umatilla Indian language.
The word joins a host of other vocabulary words including "yulama"
(cheerleaders) and "tipawalukwilkiwilama" (football team).
Nearby, Syreeta Thompson raises her head from her paper as the baby in a
carrier at her feet starts crying. Syreeta picks up the infant, rummages
for a bottle and starts feeding it.
The baby is actually a life-size doll that cries periodically to
indicate when she's stressed.
Syreeta must figure out what's wrong and respond by feeding, diapering
or rocking her.
While the program is common in high schools to impress upon students how
much is involved in caring for infants, this doll is a little different
than the typical model. It's American Indian.
Outside the classroom, in the hallway, vivid posters recount historical
events -- not the American Revolution or the Battle of the Bulge, rather
the Battle of Little Bighorn, the Indian Removal Act of 1830 and other
events especially important in American Indian circles.
The Nixyaawii Charter School emphasizes American Indian language and
culture. Students study native tongues, choosing to learn either Nez
Perce, Walla Walla or Cayuse dialects.
Most of the school's 65 students are American Indian.
Chartered in July 2004, the school sought to turn around a horrendously
high dropout rate among American Indian students and to bring native
languages and culture back from the brink.
Principal Annie Tester, a multi-tasker extraordinaire, scrambled to pull
a curriculum together and develop a plan of operation before the
school's doors opened.
"There was nothing in place," she said, remembering that she went
without pay for two months because the school had no one to take care of
the books. "It's pretty daunting to open up a new school."
Over time, the school invented itself. Tester watched with fascination
as the year progressed, systems were put in place and students responded
to the school's unique curriculum.
By the end of Nixyaawii's maiden year, Tester was encouraged. Student
dropout rates were down, grades were up and attendance statistics showed
radical improvement.
Tester says attendance is key.
"We call. We pick them up," she said. "They don't fall through the
cracks."
Graduation was an emotional affair. Three chiefs led a procession of six
graduates into the gym, which was filled to capacity. Many in the
audience brushed tears away as they listened to each student speak.
"You could feel the pride," Tester said. "The walls of the gym expanded
with the pride."
This year, Tester's days are a blur of activity as she visits with
students and staff, grades papers, crunches numbers, delivers lunches
and hustles to complete a thousand other things that are part of life as
a small school principal.
But the systems are in place, curriculum is coming together and the
school shines brightly for other tribes who might want to follow suit.
The Warm Springs Indian Reservation has watched Nixyaawii's progress
with interest and appears headed down the same path.
The last installment of the initial Oregon Department of Education
startup grant of $350,000 has been paid, but the school's financial
footing seems solid. Nixyaawii had a carry-over of more than $100,000
this year.
Tester gets emotional when she thinks about her students and the strong
bonds that continue to strengthen.
"They trust you if you earn their trust," Tester said. "It takes a while
to build that."