Native American Retention in Higher Education
The Current Statistics of Modern Day Native America Native American people make up less than two percent of the entire population, and are economically poorer, experience more unemployment, and are less formally educated than the national average. Indian people are disadvantaged in the development of education, economics, and politics, because of the lack of experience, opportunity, and resources (Tierney 1992). At the beginning of the 20th century the Indian population dropped to a mere 237,000 (Carney 1999). There were many reasons for the massive decrease in population of Indian people in the past such as, genocide, assimilation, government policy and intervention, unfulfilled treaty obligations by the government, and prejudice. Such reasons still account for the majority of the problems that face Indian people now. Although Indian people have increased in population since, these reasons still affect Indian people in the aftermath of Indian survival. Higher education is where many people of many groups understand and k!now that in order to advance in society an individual must first obtain a college diploma. Regardless of what type of degree an individual may receive their chances to earn more money, have more bene
Throughout history Indian people have been lead to believe that they are "falling behind", because Indian people score less than other groups on standardize or intelligence tests. By doing so the comprehension and understanding that there are no limitations in the capacity to learn offers alternatives for the betterment of Indian existence. Education may be even more critical for American Indians than any other minority group, since they represent the most economically disadvantaged group in the United States (Wright, Hirlinger, England 1998). According to critical theorists the point of knowledge is not to learn absolutes, and a knowledgeable individual is not someone who has learned a particular canon of facts and concepts. The point of the matter is that the Indian student is faced with many obstacles throughout a formal educational lifespan, and as an Indian student, odds are, they will not succeed. This is not true, because they are unintelligent and cannot compete with the rest of society in the ability to learn, but because they are forced to excel, achieve, and persevere in the same structural way as the dominant society. This effectiveness on Indian mentality and perspective drove Indian People to believe that Indian culture and formal education should not be combined. Some other reasons for the importance of retention for Indian people in higher education is that it can encourage self-awareness, and self-motivation. The theorist point of view of educational organizations is to enable individuals to become emancipated and empowered. Yes there is a problem within the realms of Indian education, but until Indian people realize where these problems stem from will the retention of Indian people in higher education diminish. The dominant society does not however have to learn anything about Indigenous culture or history for the sake of survival, as Indian people have had to do with Euro culture and history. This meant that Indian people were established entities completely outside the provisions of the constitution. Georgia, John Marshall declared Indian people dependant sovereigns. The goal of retention is to gain understanding and rea!lization that Indian people can use education as a tool to advance their mentality in more ways than expected to. Not to single out Indian people from other minority groups affected in the same manner, but the struggle for Indian! people to succeed in higher education is greater.
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