"After 27 years of doing my job, I have decided it is time to air my feelings on what is happening to the education of our American Indian children in this country. It has become apparent that nationally, Indian education - as it has existed since the inception of the Merriam Report of 1928 (which highlighted the inadequate services and spending in Indian education and many other areas of Indian life) - quite frankly is not working.

Having worked in Bureau of Indian Affairs, tribal and public schools, I can say things are not happening to turn the corner for our Indian students, who continue to show one of the highest dropout rates and lowest test scores of any group in this country.

It is appalling to work with states that seem to have absolutely no idea what to do with their Indian education issues other than to ask the federal government to lower their standards. It is even more apparent that our Indian students seem to have less of a concern about their education - due, in part, to various attitudes and perceptions that continue to prevail and plague this country with respect to Indian people."

Get the Story:
Wayne Trottier: Indian ed needs an overhaul (The Grand Forks Herald 6/5)

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