Education Law

Journey to the past

The New York Times recently reported on the great efforts that the Arapaho tribe on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming is showing in their fight to save their language.

Only abut 200 native Arapaho speakers are still alive today, and tribal leaders want to make sure the language continues after their passing. In efforts to save the language, a new school has been opened, and children will only be taught in native Arapaho.

According to the article:

?Language-immersion schools offer an environment that goes beyond teaching the language,? Ms. Slaughter said. ?It provides a safe place where a child?s roots are nurtured, its culture honored, and its being valued.?

The school is receiving positive feedback from the community, and many hope that it will bring a positive change in the culture that has a 78 percent head-of-household unemployment rate and 52 percent student drop-out rate.

The article points out that both Montana and New York have had success with Indian immersion schools, and that language fluency among young Indians is tied to overall academic achievement. BoardBuzz wishes them luck and hope this school has been as effective as those in other states. A way to keep heritage alive and reach higher student achievment? We couldn't be prouder!

Full post as published by BoardBuzz: NSBA's Daily Weblog on October 24, 2008 (boomark / email).