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Schools out for summer-Indian education issues aren’t taking a break

Among Meskwaki School and Tribal officials attending the Thursday, June 3, U.S. Senate listening post at the Settlement School Thursday were (l-r) Jill Herink, high school principal, Tribal Chairman Adrian Pushetonequa, Christina Blackcloud-Garcia, Tribal Vice-Chairman Jonathan Papakaee and, at right, Travis Mullen. The meeting was aimed at receiving input on Indian education matters in the Midwest. Chronicle/John Speer

TOLEDO CHRONICLE – Although school vacation for the summer began last week, the focus on Indian school education continued at the forefront last Thursday at the Meskwaki Settlement School.

Educators from around the midwest joined with those from the Meskwaki School and local Tribal leaders to direct their opinions to staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

The session was billed as part of the efforts by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to “confront issues facing education in Indian Country.”

In a letter to Tribal leaders and educators, U.S. Senator Byron L. Dorgan, (D-North Dakota), said information gathered at the meeting would “would ensure that your priorities for improving education opportunities for Indian students are part of the discussions surrounding national education reform.”

Dorgan chairs the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

Some of the ideas floated and issues encountered included:

•expansion of model Tribal schools on-line curriculm

•a call for standardized achievement testing for Tribal schools nation-wide

•more involvement between the Department of Education and the Department of Indian Education

•issues involving teacher recruitment and retention

•funding of early childhood – Headstart programs

Schools out for summer-Indian education issues aren’t taking a break

Among Meskwaki School and Tribal officials attending the Thursday, June 3, U.S. Senate listening post at the Settlement School Thursday were (l-r) Jill Herink, high school principal, Tribal Chairman Adrian Pushetonequa, Christina Blackcloud-Garcia, Tribal Vice-Chairman Jonathan Papakaee and, at right, Travis Mullen. The meeting was aimed at receiving input on Indian education matters in the Midwest. Chronicle/John Speer

TOLEDO CHRONICLE – Although school vacation for the summer began last week, the focus on Indian school education continued at the forefront last Thursday at the Meskwaki Settlement School.

Educators from around the midwest joined with those from the Meskwaki School and local Tribal leaders to direct their opinions to staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

The session was billed as part of the efforts by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to “confront issues facing education in Indian Country.”

In a letter to Tribal leaders and educators, U.S. Senator Byron L. Dorgan, (D-North Dakota), said information gathered at the meeting would “would ensure that your priorities for improving education opportunities for Indian students are part of the discussions surrounding national education reform.”

Dorgan chairs the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

Some of the ideas floated and issues encountered included:

•expansion of model Tribal schools on-line curriculm

•a call for standardized achievement testing for Tribal schools nation-wide

•more involvement between the Department of Education and the Department of Indian Education

•issues involving teacher recruitment and retention

•funding of early childhood – Headstart programs