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I am currently a pre-service
teacher and am still in the process of learning about the different situations
and classroom environments I may someday encounter. I read educational books,
observe and assist in different school settings and talk with experienced
teachers. However, out of all the teaching theories and techniques I’ve
encountered so far, the most beneficial piece of knowledge I’ve learned is the
Indigenous perspective on education from “Look to the Mountain: An Ecology of
Indigenous Education” by Gregory Cajete.
One problem that America
faces today is the disconnection we have to both our natural world as well as
one another. We tend to focus on individual success and in this process; we
loose our sense of community. As I learned about the tribal perspective on
education, I saw many differences in the techniques used to share knowledge and
in the messages taught. There is a Lakota phrase “Mitakuye Oyasin” that means
we are all related. This phrase shows the indigenous understanding that all
people and our physical world are connected. If American education were to
adopt this mentality, a very powerful, positive change would be seen in the
interaction people have with each other and our environment. Instead of directing
our students focus on individual success for individual gain, we could
emphasize the importance of the individual as a contributing member of our
global community. What a different world we would live in if this belief was
engrained in us all from youth.
Teaching material that has relevance
to everyday life is also lost in many of the lessons and messages that are
taught to our students. Teaching knowledge without context is something that I
encountered as a student and is something that still occurs in the classrooms I
observe. In the tribal perspective of education, formal lessons in the classroom
are not separate from the natural aspects of everyday life. Everything taught is
delivered in a way that makes it relevant to the student’s life. Living and
learning are completely connected.
As I continue on my journey towards
becoming an educator and form my own teaching style, I plan on keeping the
perspective on education that the indigenous people have in mind. The beliefs
and approach towards learning that they have are very interesting and I think
they will be beneficial to incorporate into my classroom.