Two Eagle River School: After 50 years, still going strong
In 1973 it was noted that the dropout rate for high school age students in Montana was approximately 16%, and in schools with large numbers of Native American students, the dropout rate was estimated between 38-42%. Those numbers were even higher on the Flathead Indian Reservation, where a study showed that in the nine public school districts 63% of Indian students had quit school prior to acquiring a high school diploma.
This was the beginning for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to appoint a steering committee comprised of educators and tribal members to develop a plan to meet the educational needs of Indian children on the reservation. This initial committee included Joe McDonald, Daryl Dupuis, Roger McClure, Karen Fenton, Gene Sorrell, Clarice Sanchez (King) and Gerald Slater.
The Flathead Alternative School began out of the notion that much of the alienation, inattention and apathy experienced by Indian students could be traced to an irrelevant or culturally biased curriculum. This committee perceived that the alternative school would take up slack and give Indian students who cannot cope with traditional public schools an opportunity for education.
Become a Subscriber!
You have read all of your free articles this month. Select a plan below to start your subscription today.
Already a subscriber? Login
