The Dark Ages of Education and a New Hope: Teaching Native American History in Maine Schools

Autor/in	Loring, Donna
Titel	The Dark Ages of Education and a New Hope: Teaching Native American History in Maine Schools
Quelle	In: New England Journal of Higher Education, 24 (2009) 1, S.16-17 (2 Seiten) PDF als Volltext (1); PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei (2) Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1938-5978
Schlagwörter	American Indian History; History Instruction; State Legislation; Educational Legislation; American Indian Education; Public Education; Educational History; Maine + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? History lessons; Geschichtsunterricht; Landesrecht; Bildungsrecht; Schulgesetz; Öffentliche Erziehung; History of education; Bildungsgeschichte
Abstract	In 2001, the author wrote legislation that required all public schools in Maine to teach Maine Indian history. On June 14 of that year, Gov. Angus King signed "An Act to Require Maine Native American History and Culture in Maine's Schools" into law--the first of its kind in the U.S. What makes the law unique is its requirement that specific topics be studied, such as: (1) tribal governments and political systems and their relationship with local, state, national and international governments; (2) Maine Native American cultural systems and the experience of Maine tribal people throughout history; (3) Maine Native American territories; and (4) Maine Native American economic systems. The most important piece of this legislation was the creation of a Native American History Commission to help schools gather a wide range of materials and resources to implement the law. This led to creation of the Wabanaki Educational Curriculum, which tells the story of the Wabanaki people of Maine from the Wabanaki perspective. In this article, the author discusses how the law is leading people out of the "dark ages" of education. "Dark ages" because education has been a two-edged sword for Native people. On one hand, it has opened opportunities. On the other, it harmed them physically, psychologically and spiritually. It inflicted spiritual wounds upon Native people lasting for generations. (ERIC).
Anmerkungen	New England Board of Higher Education. 45 Temple Place, Boston, MA 02111. Tel: 617-357-9620; Fax: 617-338-1577; e-mail: connection@nebhe.org; Web site: http://www.nebhe.org/
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10