Blog #1

At this late stage in my program, I would like to take a look back at some of my previously written essays. The first paper I wrote was a research proposal and quite frankly I wasn’t sure I could produce a paper that was academically up to par. The theoretical frameworks that I would be required to analyse, research and reflect upon in my final written assignment seemed impossible at the time.

My paper focused on teaching aboriginal students in my own community. The desire was to find a better way of teaching them English as a second language without diminishing their first language in the process. My research lead me to believe in the possibility of changing the way in which I, we, could teach aboriginal students without them losing their culture, language or identity. The purpose of my study was to find a theoretical perspective that would allow aboriginal students to succeed in Canada’s Western Education system.

The concern is personal as I recall my own experiences in grade school all the way through high school. Although I was immersed in my culture and language for the first 7-8 years of my life, that diminished with each passing school year. The stories, structured play, literature or histories learned in school had no connection to who I was. During my time as a teacher some teaching practices changed, but our native culture and language still sit on the back burner.

It would be unfair to say that nothing has changed in the past four years and I don’t up-to-date information (because this program keeps me quite busy) on what the local board is presently planning. Although I have heard our school is working to implement culturally responsive teaching practices and inclusive education, but the biggest hurdle seems to be the burnt bridge between the board and its parents.