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PAGE 6 September 2, 1994
Warm Springs, Oregon
SpilyayTymoo
Parents' group struggles with serious education concerns
A quality education is the basis of a qual
ity future. With a well-rounded, compre
hensive education, comes success, employ
ment and, more importantly, high self-esteem.
When barriers prevent attainment of a good
education, a cycle begins to occur. Whether
those barriers begin at home, at school or
with a student's personal relationships,
hurdles created are often insurmountable.
Identifying those obstacles is one thing.
Preventing them, or even eliminating them,
is another. Parents concerned about basic
'education needs have been meeting since last
spring, following an altercation between four
high school girls, to discuss and develop a
strategy which will hopefully smooth the
path toward success. The tribal education
branch and the education committee have
also been working on developing such a
strategy. The task is not an easy one to deal
with frustration and disappointment are
around most comers. Most frustrating is the
Tact that in the 1981 Tribal Comprehensive
Plan, identical problems were identified
community members are beginning to ask
;"why" and "what are we going to do?"
Marie Calica, speaking on behalf of the
parents' group, said earlier this summer that
home base meetings and other gatherings
were conducted at which statements of par
ents and students were gathered. From those
statements came two questionnaires one
for adults and one for students. The surveys
were distributed among tribal member stu
dents and employees and, because of lack of
time, among some community members.
About 50 percent of the surveys were re
turned. Though complete survey results were
not available, the ultimate goal was for a
tribal school on the reservation. "It would be
a school of choice. A quality school. We
could take responsibility for the type of
education, discipline and teachers ourselves.
We would offer a creative education to ex
cite our kids."
'We can't change the past or what has
happened, but we can improve the situation
and ensure that the same things won't hap
pen again," Calica added. Low test results at
the elementary school level, a high dropout
rate and other factors all contribute to a
paternalistic society which ultimately will
cost the Tribes more than they can afford.
The graduating class of 1994 started with
138 kids in kindergarten, Calica said.
'Twenty of them graduated. What happened
to the rest?. Are they in jail? Did they die?
Did they move? Are they on General As
sistance?" "We have a generation with no skills"
which will result in a generation that will not
be sufficiently prepared to care for the res
ervation, its natural resources or the future.
The parents' group has also attended a
school board meeting at which proposed
changes in personnel and curriculum were
suggested. Calica said she felt the proposal
fell on deaf ears. "We got no response" from
board members. "We're not sure the board is
responding or listening. The only member to
give feedback was Jim Manion, Calicasaid,
expressing her frustration at the situation.
Manion was elected to the board just last
spring.
Calica explained the group's progress
and concerns to Tribal Council August 29.
In a letter presented to the Council, the
group says, "Our main focus is to encourage
all parents, youth and community members
to express their concerns and ideas in ways
that will help improve the present educa
tional services to secure productive educa
tional outcomes for our tribal youth. It is not
our intent to compete with or detract from
those activities and authorities of the Edu
cation Branch or the committees. The school
system has played us off against one another
far too often and a sad price is paid through
our children. The public school is only re
sponsible for up to thirteen years of our
children's' lives, when the schools fail, the
Tribes may inherit a responsibility that may
take several generations to restore.
"We believe there are many other parents
and adults that are very frustrated and un
willing toconunuc accepting the high dropout
rate of our tribal youth; the lack of employ
able skills and the indifferent attitude within
the educational system. Too many of our
students are being forced out of school as
behavioral problems or pressured to leave to
find a better place to learn. We must have a
more productive plan and program to meet
our youth's educational needs to become a
healthy community and secure a future for
them that will benefit all Indian people. We
are not satisfied with the services as they
exist. We would like to identify more pro
ductive alternatives that will benefit and
fulfill the educational needs of our youth....
"...As parents andor grandparents we
want to be active partners in ensuring the
quality of education available to our young
people. Past leaders looked out for our inter
ests, we need to do as much for our younger
and future generations in the best way we
can working as employees, representatives,
families and citizens in a strong partnership."
Calica encouraged Council members to
attend school board meetings, to let "our
presence be known". She also suggested,
after talking with Dr. Bud Beamer of Ma
dras, that a community task force be formed
to work on improving relationships between
Warm Springs and Madras, "stereotypes
exist out of ignorance."
Council Chairman Ray Calica, speaking
on the proposal of a tribal school, said Coun
cil has asked that the Education department
investigate what will be needed to build a
school here that would meet state require
ments. "Can we establish as separate dis
trict? How do we recruit staff and what is the
availability of teachers? Where and with
which teams would Warm Springs teams
compete? Would the state accredit and rec
ognize a Warm Springs school? This infor
mation has not been received.... What we
must realize is that a school won't happen
overnight. We'll miss a few generations,
some won't graduate. But we must prepare
ourselves for the future."
Adding, Calica suggested it was unknown
at what level the Tribe would be at the mercy
of the Oregon education department "Will
they set up barriers? ....How long will it take
us? A longtime, but short as compared" to
the past. 'The bottom line be patient. Get
what is necessary to benefit our people down
the road."
Because the parents' group feels a lack of
accountability on pan of the District, they
have proposed that two staff people be hired
to work at the Jr. and Sr. High schools as
liaisons. Too many times, they say, students
who thought they were about to graduate
found out too late they lacked the required
credits. Liaisons would be responsible for
informing the students and their parents if
they are "on-track" for graduation. They
would also work toward easing tensions that
may exist between students.
Unfortunately, the problems facing stu
dents today are not new. Hopefully, with
community action, help to overcome ob
stacles will be available to interested families.
Changes proposed
How do we ensure our young will be productive?
To the Community,
This letter is really long overdue considering the seriousness of the situation. But, rather than go
into the entire circumstances, we will just elaborate on the Finer points.
Last school year, four Madras High School students, three from Warm Springs and one from
Madras, were involved in an ongoing confrontation. We were told by our children that this problem
had been going on for at least two months and that the principal and the vice-principal were aware
of this and were supposed to be working on the problem and finding a solution. We later found out
the solution was to suspend the Warm Springs students.
The mother and daughter from Madras contacted the Madras City Police. The police went to their
home and a complaint was filed against the Warm Springs girls. A city police officer went to the
school and gave each Warm Springs student involved in the incident a citation for menacing and
harassment and talked with one of the girls. It is against the 509-J school policy rules and procedures
961 to allow any law enforcement official to come into the school and talk with a student without
a parent's knowledge.
When we tried to find out the facts from the school principal, we were told that he didn't have first
hand knowledge of the situation but that he felt the vice-principal had everything taken care of. In
reality, the principal was in his office, not in the interview, when the police officer interrogated one
of the girls. This is strictly against school policy, according to 3.3 of the rules and procedures 961,
which states the "school authority shall remain present with the student during the interview until a
parent or legal guardian is present, andor throughout the interview, when requested or when a parent
or legal guardian cannot or chooses not to attend." Superintendent Phil Riley told us that the principal
was acting on our behalf.
To make a long story short, nothing has been done to correct the situation. The problems were still
there on the last days of school. How many times have parents and children from Warm Springs gone
through this? Have any changes been made to correct similar situations such as this since we, as
adults, have been out of school? Talking with other community members, things like this have been
going on since the 40s...Did anyone read the apology in the Spilyay from Rusty Freeman, a Madras
music teacher?
Some kids have the stamina to be able to handle the situations they're put in. Some kids alienate
themselves from their Native American classmates in order to be part of the so-called "elite group"
in Madras. This comment was mentioned by other Indian students and the Jr. Council, which are
concerned about what the Indian students must endure. Let's stop this type of self-destruction we are
putting our children, our future generation, through. Give our kids a fair chance to succeed. Let's get
together and start doing something that should have been done when many of you readers were still
in school.
Our children's education is not improving and is hindered by the lack of fair and equal education.
As a concerned community, what are we going to do to correct the situation so our young people can
be our future leaders and obtain the education that will ensure they will be successful and able to
contribute positively to the needs of their Native people and all of society.
Sharlayne Garcia, Sissy Smith, Debbie Bermen
Fall Community Education classes offered
The Fall term for Community Educa
tion is right around the corner. Registra
, tion starts the week of September 12 and
, continues through September IS. If you
, are truly interested in the classes listed
, below, be sure to register as early as you
; can during that week. If the minimum
, number of students have not registered,
then the class gets canceled, leaving many
, people disappointed, so register EARLY.
Conversational Spanish
Build a fundamental working knowl
edge of Spanish. Improve basic and job
- related communication. Ideally suited for
beginners, Excellent preparation for a credit
class. Wednesdays from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
from September 21 to November 9. In
structor is Scott McLean. Gass cost is $40
and will be held at the Warm Springs
Education Center.
Western Swing
Another of the "Western" style dance
forms that are currently so popular and
which attracted so many participants to a
class here least year. Learn Western Swing
from basic footwork to advanced moves.
Bring a friend and join the swing! Class
held Thursdays at the Community Center
from 7 to 9 p.m. for four weeks beginning
October 6. Mary Raines is the instructor.
Cost $19.60
Mask Making
Express yourself. Design and build your
own mask beginning with a molded im
pression of your face or another figure.
Finished pieces make excellent gifts or
wall decorations. Supply list available at
registration. Class, taught by award-winning
artist Holly Anna Spino, will be held
Tuesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Warm
Springs Education Center. Four-week class
begins September 27 and ends October 25.
Cost: $26.
Typing on the Computer
Having trouble finding the appropriate
key on the keyboard? Master the keyboard
by touch. For beginners as well as those
wishing to brush up on their skills. Class
held Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. from
September 27 to November 22. Marilyn
Hart is instructing at the Warm Springs
Education Center. Cost: $36.50.
Intro to Windows
A complete introduction to Windows on
IBM compatibles. Learn the basics of cus
tomizing WordPerfect utilizing Windows
and special features. Includes dialogue boxes,
button bars and file manager. Greg Smith,
instructor, will hold the class on Thursdays
from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Warm Springs
Education Center. Class will begin Sep
tember 29 and continue to October 27. Cost
$33.88
Intro to Lotus
This beginner and refresher course on
basic spreadsheets is ideal for both family
and business budgets. Learn commands,
formulas, macros and graphics. Bring a 31
2" disk. Instructing will be Mike Lofting.
Class will be held on Mondays form 6:30 to
9 p.m. at the Warm Springs Education Center.
Class begins October 3 and ends October 24.
Cost $32.
Lotus 2.4 Version
The next level above Intro to Lotus. This
pair of classes is offered in sequence so that
you can progress from beginner to advanced
user in one eight-week period. Learn ad
vanced Lotus features including data base,
macros, and wysisyg. Prior Lotus required.
Mike Lofting is also instructing this class on
Mondays from 6:30 to 9 pjn. at the Warm
Springs Education Center. Begins Novem
ber 7 and continues to November 28. Cost:
$32.
GEDABE
The new term will start September 20.
Registration will be held September 20 and
22, 27 and 29. Classes are held Tuesday and
Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Enrollment
is limited and classes have been filling
quickly.
Students need to realize that class is only
three hours a day, two days a week and if they
do not attend regularly, the position will be
given to someone who really wants to study
for their GED.
Second writing
class scheduled
Human Resources and Central Oregon
Community College are co-sponsoring a
"Writing Improvement" class beginning
September 12. Held Mondays and Wednes
days from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. at the Education
Center, the five-week class will conclude
October 19.
The focus of the class is on word choices,
grammar, punctuation, spelling, appropriate
sentence structure all; those elements that
lead to writing mastery. Language is chang
ing with the times, but not lessening in im
portance. This is your chance to get on board.
Registration deadline is Thursday, Sep
tember 8. Call 553-1428. Pre-registration is
required
The proposed personnel and curriculum changes are:
1. Need more staff to work with Warm Springs youth and parents to
ensure school contact regarding all student needs.
l.A Native American liaison in Madras Jr. High school, at Buff and at
the High School.
l.B Teacher assistants, also at the Jr. High, Buff and Warm Springs
Elementary.
l.C Licensed tutors at the high school level as compared to peer tutors.
1. D Native American staff person to coordinate and communicate
educational needs and work with the Tribe and District 509-J.
2. Curriculum
2. A To include a class teaching the Warm Springs tribal organization,
history, government, cultural values and beliefs, etc.
2.B Three tribal Indian languages to be offered at Elementary, Buff and
Jr. and Sr. High Schools.
2.C Life Skills, personal health, self-esteem, gang awareness, relation
ships. 2. D Career awareness and preparation.
3. To enable strengthening the community and cultural awareness of
teachers and other District educators cultural in-service to be pro
vided throughout the school year.
3. A Quarterly workshops, school assemblies and in-service training.
More than 50 head to college
The following is a listing of college
bound students for the 1994-1995 fall term.
Rebecca Aguilar, Jana Buck,
Cynthia Caldera, Direlle Calica,
Marie Calica, Heather Crow,
Tamera Coffee, Jacob Coochise,
Nikki Courtney, Ten Courtney,
Doreen Danzuka, Laurie Danzuka,
Toni Florendo, Angelina Frutos,
Elbrosia Gurno, Leona Dee, Louise
Jackson, Vesta Johnson, Josh
Kalama, Jothan Lawrence, Alyssa
Macy, Robert Macy, Jr., Scheldon
Minnick, Sunmiet Minnick, Jolene
Pineda, David Poitras, Tonia Polk,
Frank Reese, Jr.,Mary Ross, Urbana
Ross, William Sahme, Dean Seyler,
Louis Scott, Tonya Selam, Bodie
Shaw, Amanda Smith, Denise
Smith, June Smith, Mona Smith,
Rachelle Smith, Richard Smith,
Ryan Smith, Sr., Rebecca Soliz,
Marceline Stacona, Carol Stevens,
Alexandria Tapia, Travis Wells,
Lois Wenzel, Dennis White, in, Ja
son Williams, Owens Yahtin and
Nicole Yaw-Clemens.
Program ensures students' ability,
commitment for higher education
The eight-week Summer Bridge was con
ducted June 21 through August 12 through
the Central Oregon Community College
Warm Springs office. Seventeen college
bound students worked hard to earn 10 credit
hours in college math, English and reading.
Computer instruction was also included to
teach students wordprocessing. Mastering
this skill is vital to being able to function
effectively in today's college setting. It also
had an immediate pay-off by being put to use
to complete the Summer Bridge's homework
assignments.
In its third year, Summer Bridge helps
students bridge the gap between reservation
life and college life. Students must receive a
passing grade to be eligible for tribal funding
for college tuition and related costs. Not only
does the class immerse students in the reality
of study and homework, it also includes
managing jobs and family. Classes were held
Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 12
noon and then participants went on to their
regular jobs for at least four hours more.
At the end of the eight-week session, 1 1
students were successful in meeting the chal
lenge and completing the coursework. Three
students received 4.0 grade point average
(straight A). The cumulative GPA for the
entire group was 3.0 (B) This outstanding
achievement speaks volumes about the stu
dents' dedication and commitment
Completing the class with 4.0s were Alice
Sampson, Angelina Frutos and Tamera
Coffee. Others who completed the class were
Edgar Boise, Frank Brunoe, Nikki Courtney,
Doreen Danzuka, Elbrosia Gurno, Jolene
Pineda, Denise Smith and Jason Williams.
During the final week of the program,
students were honored with a picnic at Jurassic
Park with basketball and volleyball for en
tertainment After all the festivities, final
exams provided a memorable conclusion to
Summer Bridge 1994, especially the "timely"
interruption imposed by the fire alarms.
Student Success Strategies to begin
Do you have college or vocational school
plans for the near future?
Are you seeking tribal scholarship funds
to help finance your move to this next im
portant level of education?
Do you want to position yourself for
maximum success as you take on the chal
lenge of schooling beyond the high school
level?
If you are currently a high school senior
or anyone else planning to attend college or
vocational school in the near future, the
Higher Education Department of the Edu
cation Branch and COCC have the answer.
Registration is taking place now for a
class beginning October 4 which meets in the
evening, once a week for eight weeks. This
class is called "Student Success Strategies"
and you need to come to the Education Branch
and meet with Career Counselor Lily Ann
Walker. Attendance is a requirement for those
who wish to be eligible for tribal scholarship
aid but is open to anyone. Class size is lim
ited. A new class is offered each Fall, Winter
and Spring term, so if you are unable to attend
now, plan to do so in the future.