Special Education Implementation For Native American Girls Essay

Special Education Implementation For Native American Girls Quality education for children has been an ongoing issue for today's society. There has also been an increasing concern for the education of students with special needs. The effect of these concerns has been noted in many communities, such as the Native American community. The population of special education students in the Native American communities is not necessarily higher than others, however, their community is effected, therefore also in need of quality special education programs. The need for quality special education is strongly felt by the women and girls within the Native American culture because of the pressures of their cultures and societies. Woman and girls have always held distinctive roles within the Native American community. These role have withstood the test of time. In a discussion with Juan Zuniga, a bilingual educator with an emphasis on Hispanic and American Indian cultures, I found that women in the Native American society are very much so, encouraged to stay at home and be homemakers. They are far less likely to pursue further education and often find it hard to gain the support to complete high school. The importance of education among females in their society is not as predominant as in others (J.Zuniga). In some cases it is necessary for young Indian people to leave their homes and families to obtain an adequate education for the preparation of today's society (National Indian Child Conference 1979). They are also faced with being torn between modern American ways and their tribal customs and beliefs. Because of this it is often instilled in them that they are incapable of achieving. This sense of self worthlessness ... ...e, Michael, and Others. "Your Rights: A Handbook for Native American Youth in Arizona." Washington, D.C.: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 1982. Foster, Carl G., and Gable, Emma. " The Indian Child in Special Education: Two Persons' Perceptions." ERIC, 1980. Grossman, Herbert. "Special Education In A Diverse Society." Allyn and Bacon: Boston, 1994. "Report of The National Indian Child Conference." Administration for Children, Youth, and Families: Washington, D.C., 1979. "Resource Directory: Migrant and Indian Exceptional Children." Department of Education: Washington, D.C., 1981. Winzer, Margret A. "The History of Special Education From Isolation to Integration." Gallaudet University Press: Washington, D.C., 1993. Zuniga, Barbara. Personal Interview. March 26, 1999. Zuniga, Juan. Personal Interview. March 25, 1999.