McDowell Report Final Nov. 2001

FOCUS GROUPS

APPENDIX G

Aniak

What is the most important thing to do to improve the quality of education of Alaska Native children who live in villages?

Get involved, teamwork, show benefits afterwards.
Reach out, give opportunities, know the lifestyle of that community, less homework.
Teachers find out from both kids who did it first when they get in trouble, not blame.
Stay in school and learn about what you want to be.
I think the one most important thing to do to improve the quality of education for Alaskan Natives would be actually come out to a village and get to know the culture, community and the students. Getting to know where you' re working is a big step so that they know what things are really like out here and the stuff we deal with. So I think getting to know the culture and community would be most important.
Get teachers, especially from villages, who really care about their students doing well. More funding for better teachers and more time for counselors and tutors to help students. LESS HOMEWORK.
Bring in or hire more Native teachers who have the knowledge of teaching and Native or village lifestyles. Less discrimination of Native children, treat all as one.

Anchorage

What is the most important thing to do to improve the quality of education of Alaska Native children who live in Anchorage?

Teaching multi-levels of parental/family/friend involvement techniques. Supported by multi-community (school, business, cultural, social) involvement on a one-to-one basis -responsibility.
Building a safe, positive surrounding for your child and enhancing it with educating about all cultures both statewide and internationally. The key is keeping all doors open to learning. If a child starts with basics, he can do anything.
Start young - Early Head Start (0 - 3) and Head Start (3 - 5). These are low income programs. We need programs for all income levels. Intern programs for all income levels - encourage, give opportunity, open doors and visions of Alaska Native youth.
Communication, for me, in my opinion we need to make people more aware of all that is out there for them and try to help them utilize all that is available to them.
Not to restrict Native kids to one general group. Yeah, it' s great to make the individual feel "important" as an individual and recognize their heritage. But, if a child does not want to be a part of a segregated class, don't make them feel bad about it.

Business

What is the most important thing to do to better prepare Alaska Native children for entering the workplace?

Ask the Economic Elders to keep boardroom discussions/attitudes in the boardroom. To quit bad-mouthing "them," or those guys, and to encourage parents to help motivate the youth.
Strong family values related to need for education.
Prepare them for hitting forks in the road and how to make decisions - when bad decision is made how to move on to a positive without being discouraged.
Make Alaska Native history a requirement in schools for both students and TEACHERS!
Require state/national/county (parents/teachers) to look toward the future and develop a long term plan to invest in the development of their young people.
Work readiness classes throughout K-12, including budgeting, goal setting, strategic planning, computers, customer relations and communication.
Students are expected to succeed as well as anyone else and be given the feeling that anyone can be given the self-motivated conviction to be a success. Parents' involvement is a mark of expectation.
Education and training so that the individual can learn a "marketable skill."
Instill self-pride and confidence.