Alternative School Needs More Time

Many Native American families have a wounding in their history around education. Earlier this century, many tribal families intersected with misguided programs that wrenched children from their tribes and into non-Indian schools.

The hair of these children was cut short. Their languages forbidden. Their age-old rituals denied.

Some believe that generational hurts are passed down, like genetic predispositions to disease. This is one theory why some Native American young people struggle today in school and have high dropout rates.

Other factors play in, too. But because the causes are complex, the solutions require much focus and time. Spokane School District 81 is to be applauded for trying to address this trying problem.

The Medicine Wheel Academy opened its doors last fall at the Bancroft Center in North Spokane. It is an alternative school targeted toward Indian students who have dropped out or drifted away from mainstream school. There are 23 students in grades seven through 12. Education reporter Jeanette White spent time recently in the academy and her article about the school appeared in Sunday’s newspaper.

Teachers at The Medicine Wheel Academy are Native American. The classes are steeped in culture. Some school sessions begin with traditional smudging - the burning of herbs - as a way to clear the classroom and the minds of the students learning in it.

Many of the students love the school and the opportunity to learn and understand more of Indian culture, but 13 of the original students have already left the school, a rate that is high - even for alternative schools.

This spring, the school board will decide whether to continue the program, which costs the district $192,000. We would urge the board to deeply study and consider the issue. To realize that, nationally, alternative schools for Native Americans often have high turnover rates. That programs this innovative need more than a year to thrive.

This is an important population to serve. Native American young people, turned on by education, will continue into college and beyond, and give back in their communities.

As reservations around the country, and especially in the Inland Northwest, work hard toward eliminating poverty, alcoholism and unemployment, they need bright, educated young people. In The Medicine Wheel Academy, those future leaders are learning the way. So it’s important to give this experiment in education a chance to unfold.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Rebecca Nappi/For the editorial board