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Native Underachievement in Canadian Schools

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Native Underachievement in Canadian Schools

A comparison of native students and their non-native peers quickly brings one to the realization that native students are not experiencing a comparable degree of education success in Canadian schools. It is vital that native Canadians address this issue thoroughly, to insure that the nation is no longer faced with a semi-literate, unemployable population, requiring financial support. In order to fully address native educational underachievement it is important to examine the historical causes of the problem, the issues we are faced with today, as well as, identifying possible viable solutions.

Early European settlers in Canada unfoundedly conceived the white culture to be superior to that of the native population they encountered. This rampant feeling of superiority led the Europeans to desire domination of the native nation, which was to be achieved through assimilation. The [European settlers] believed that "Indian children were best prepared for assimilation into the dominant society if they were removed from the influences of home, family, and community" (Barman, Hebert & McCaskill, 1986). In the opinion of these settlers residential, or boarding schools were a superior means of achieving native assimilation. After a century, native assimilation through education was forsaken as the official goal of the Canadian government. However, Kevin Busswood, speaking on behalf of the Members of the Association of Canadian Community Colleges states, " educational institutions fail to recognize the hidden agenda through which they are presenting the industrial of life as the only way to go". He further stated, "it is not very useful to lament the effects of colonialism when its ins...

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...ltural education is beneficial to the entire society. Natives comprise a large segment of Canada's population, and it is to the benefit of all citizens that we make the most of our resources.

Bibliography:

Jean Barman, Yvonne Hebert, & Don McCaskill. Indian Education in Canada Volume: 1 The Legacy. University of British Columbia Press Vancouver. 1986

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. University Education and Economic Well being: Indian Achievement and Prospects. Ottawa. 1990

Friesen, John. People Culture and Learning Detselig Enterprises Limited. Calgary. 1977

Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Public Hearings Toward Reconciliation Overview of the fourth Round Ottawa. 1994

Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Public Hearings Discussion Paper 2 Focusing the Dialogue. Canada Communication Group Publishing. 1993
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