Indian Education

One of the most eye opening stories in Sherman Alexei's The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven is Indian Education, starting on page 171.  One of the questions my group was asked to discuss was why Junior described the students on the Reservation the way he does, "...a few can't read, one or two are just given attendance diplomas, most look forward to the parties.  The bright students are shaken, frightened, because they don't know what comes next."

Our group discussed a few points but primarily came back to the same thought that Reservations are inherently poor.  Students on the Reservation do not have the same opportunities as those who go to school elsewhere.  Their best shot is probably learning a trade and getting a job on the Res. themselves or getting a part time job at a store.  The kids who are bright and are graduating from the Reservation are probably terrified because the outlook is grim at best.

I found an article about the Indian boarding schools funded by the government on NPR--how these places are salvation for students.  Here's a link.  The girl they interview says that she had to get out of her Apache Reservation because most people commit suicide or are alcoholics.

One thing Junior discusses in the Indian Education story is how he was outcasted by his peers because he went off the Res. to get an education.  I think that while being ostracized is awful, it is better to have more of a chance at succeeding in your life instead of accepting a bleak fate.