May 30, 2005

Education

Education

1. Traditional Learning:

• Read the children's picture book, As Long as the Rivers Flow, by Larry Loyie
• Write a short descriptive review of the book
• Find and note the methods of learning found in the book
• Compare this example of Cree traditional learning with that of a non-Canadian indigenous group
• Answer the question: How would you design a school to include traditional learning?
• The site documenting changes in the Australian system may be useful, Aborigines Make New Beginnings in Outback Schools [Cultural Survival, December 15, 2003]

2. Compare the Residential School Experience in Canada with the Australian Child Removal Experience

• Watch the video Where the Spirit Lives, (Set in 1937 amid the rugged beauty of Western Canada, Where the Spirit Lives is an uplifting story of Amelia, a courageous young Blackfoot girl. Amelia is taken from her home in the reserve and relocated by the government.) and the DVD, Rabbit Proof Fence, (At a time when it was Australian government policy to train aboriginal children as domestic workers, Molly decides to lead her little sister and cousin in a daring escape through a 1500 mile rabbit-proof fence zone which bisects the continent and will lead them home). These videos are available from the NBCHS Library.
• Write short descriptive reviews of each video
• Research the the residential school experience and the Australian child removal experience
• Compare and contrast the experiences of the children in these videos

3. Indigenous Education in New Zealand

• Read the article Toward a bicultural educational system: the experience of New Zealand. This article provides an excellent overview of the changes New Zealand has made in its educational system to meet the needs of the Maori.
• Research the changes made in the New Zealand Educational system to find out if they have been successful.

4. Community Schools in Saskatchewan
   1. Describe how you would incorporate the community school concepts into an elementary school?
      • Visit an elementary community school.
      • Interview the principle, teachers, the community school coordinator, students
      • Use documents from Saskatchewan learning to provide you with the background for your interviews.
      • Talk/e-mail community school experts at Sasklearning with specific questions
      • Your product (website, slide show) must indicate an understanding of the community school concept
      • If you plan to take pictures make sure to get written permission
   2. How would design your school to incorporate the objectives and philosophies of a community school?
      • Use the documents from Saskatchewan Learning to provide with the background for further research.
      • Interview students and your teachers and support people in your school, e.g. RCMP Liaison
      • Interview community businesses and individuals
      • Your product (website, slide show) must indicate an understanding of the community school concept