To answer some of the questions I have been asked regarding my week 4 reflection...Mary, the agreement between the Oneida Nation and the school has been about 8 years running now and only ONE student has graduated, just this year (and it was the success story I mentioned~the student who now lives with another non-Native American family from the school). So while it should have had some other successes by now, at least 4 of the students who should have graduated have since been asked to leave the school within the past 8 years. So bottom line...no role models to speak of.
Aja, student to student interactions are plenty in the school, among the same peer group and others as well. Group work is required of all students and the teachers frequently pair students up so that not all students from the same neighborhoods, same ethnicities, etc., group themselves together. I think I mentioned in my first posting about these students that they frequently self-select and the teachers do not see a problem with this socially but in the classroom they do work to integrate all the students. I don't know what the magic answer is here but we have tried to do several interventions of sorts, some one at a time, others all at once.
Hi Jen:
ReplyDeleteThank you for your return follow-up response; it is much appreciated. In general, this is a complex problem with no easy solution(s) in the foreseeable future. I think that we are missing some vital form of information; however, it will probably take the students themselves to admit what they feel the problems are that they are encountering in the school and then feel comfortable enough to share their comments, insights and, hopes with others.
Best,
~Aja