An Indian Fathers Plea
Robert Lake
Robert Lake
That is
a typical stereotype for the teacher to already call Wind Wolf a slow learner. Children
maybe learn in different ways and in a school setting sitting down it may be
hard for Wind Wolf because traveling he saw a lot of things and learned from
seeing his surroundings by touch, sight, smell, and his spiritual surroundings.
His father really stuck it to the man! The education in the school systems are totally
different from the way Wind Wolf learned how to count, he can speak other
languages, tell you 40 different kinds of birds. Wind Wolf has the knowledge that
his tribe and culture may teach their children and he just has to go in the
school system by law and they are not giving him enough credit and attention
that he needs.
I think
that the teachers at the school should have at least talked with the parents
first because no one knows what goes on at home, you don’t live with the child.
So Wind Wolf definitely is learning in a different way know. His family was
teaching him how to count sticks, fish, beads, etc and in school they are
learning different methods so if he is struggling with different activities in
school the teachers should at least have the courtesy to call home and see if there is something
that the school can do to help with the transition to the new school with new
people rather than just calling him a slow learner.
This is
also the teachers job to make the school or the classroom a better learning
environment for all of the children. If this child is getting harassed and bullied
it needs to be stop. Coming home 3 times in 2 weeks crying because people are
making fun of him is not okay something should have been done the first time
and nothing has happened. Now the child is ashamed of his heritage and his
culture and doesn't want to go to school any more.
I think
that Wind Wolfs father did an exemplary job telling the teacher off but also
telling them that he can help if they are not that well educated in different
heritages. That was a well needed well written letter that needed to be wrote.
I can only imagine the pain of the family knowing that the child is starting
not to like his culture and doesn’t want to participate in their religious
rituals. That alone is partly the teachers fault for not working with the child
and making him feel more involved with the class and his fellow students. A lot
of children around the world must be going through the same problem so that is
an essential topic to be educated on if you are going into a teaching
profession. You will need to be educated on different cultures and make the
children feel more welcomed than more different.
I agree that children learn in different ways and as teachers we should accept it. I think that is why we are learning different ways how to do math for example. We should give students options and which ever way they learn best, is the way the student should be able to do it freely.
ReplyDeleteThis was another good point of view that shows the reader that children of different backgrounds learn differently. It's unfair for the teacher to assume everyone learns the same way. I found this article similar to the Delpit piece. Both were effective in teaching new perspectives. You did a good job of pointing out the main ideas of this one. Good stuff.
ReplyDeleteYou did a very good job with explaining your point of views. I agree when you said that the teachers should have talked to the parents first. Also to me teaching can be a very delicate thing, the teacher cannot force a student to learn in a certain way. Teachers are there to guide and help students learn, the way students react and apply themselves is strictly up to them.
ReplyDeleteHi Nick, I enjoyed reading your perspective on this article. It's a beautiful letter from a father to his son's teacher and I think your first sentence really captures the essence of the letter. Do not assume a child is a slow learner just because he is not accustomed to our "traditional" follow-the-curriculum- way of learning. Wind Wolf has an education beyond the classroom and textbooks...he is smart and intellectual, and has a sense of his physical earthly surroundings, all thought to him by his family, relatives, tribal members. His education system has been different than those of his current classmates. Some may argue, that it's even better.
ReplyDelete