Cheryl Wood (Blog 1)

While reading chapter one of our readings I have noticed how the quality of education on reservations does not compare to the quality of education in a majority of provincially run schools. Within the reading it discussed the school at Attawapiskat First Nation being shut down in 2000 due to contamination. The students had to attend school in temporary portable classrooms right beside the contaminated area. I couldn't imagine sending any child to a school that was toxic and unsafe never mind having to work in it myself. The Students in Attawapiskat were deprived from things such a gym, library and a play structure. Even in the winter students would have to travel outside from classroom to classroom.

Within the reading it mentioned having to move a ramp every year for a student in a wheel chair. Growing up where I did, the schools were accessible by wheelchair in almost every area of the school that we as students were allowed. I couldn't imagine being in a wheelchair and being confined to an area due to accessibility issues for so many years. School shouldn't be a place where disabilities are pronounced.

Page 2 spoke about social structures around us and how they shape our life outcomes. As teachers we have to be aware of this as our students will not all come from the same social class. Some students may come from high socioeconomic families where they may have been brought up around different types of literature and other resources where on the other hand some students come from lower socioeconomic families. These students may not have had the opportunities as such a child raised in a higher socioeconomic home. From this we have to take that every child is unique. There are many things that can affect a child and sometimes it’s good to recognize how the child’s life is outside of school as this can determine whether it is going to be a good day or a not so good day. Things such as if the student had a good night sleep, if they had a healthy breakfast, living in a healthy environment etc., can all determine how the student will engage in the classroom. Social class can determine what school a child may go to or whether or not a student will graduate or go to post secondary schooling. Some students are pushed by their parents to go further in their life and get post-secondary schooling. Other students are not given the opportunity due to the lack of resources that are in their life at the time.    

It’s terrible that Attawapiskat First Nation had to call for state of emergency three times. I wonder why the issues aren't taken as seriously as they should be. They had to attend school in temporary portable classrooms right beside the contaminated area. It seems crazy to me that legal issues such as this, takes such a long time before any action takes place.

Discussion Questions:

How can legal issues be ignored for so long? How can we prevent broken promises from the government?