Native American students seek recognition and test-score reporting

it should be about how one preforms, about an individuals achivments and not about competation of one race/background against another. the overall preformance of the class as a whole is important and the overall result shows how the teacher preformed at education the class. ok, let's take the native american. it is a family and that family alone that judges how their child preformed in that class. i am sure there is far more the family can teach of values then can ever be learned in a class room. there are also things withen their tribe that is far more of personal value that is learned to them that is never known in public schools and never evualuated in the school system. one major probem this country has today is the "diversity" issue. instead of people adapting to the american way as it is refured to, the country is being divided into groups of different cultures withen each city. that only builds up wals between different races/cultures. with the native american, i look at them as a super special group that desirves to be "different", as their home lands were taken from them. they have a right to be "different". but that different is special to them because of their right to this country. i have worked with many as an adult and have always felt humbled in their presents. their insites and wisdom is amazing. while some are saying "Vallejo High School's Apache mascot is offensive", i find it inspiring, something to look up to, a symbol of heros, bravery, leadership, wisdom we can not understand and nothing to be offended by.

Unfortunately, this is like a zillion other reasons why public education is bankrupt. Special programming, special needs, special populations etc. all carry heavy costs which the law mandates that local school districts bear. Thus kids in the classroom are denied an education because the public system is forced to pay for all of the "special" costs. This is one of the major reasons why the public school system is such a mess.

UH Athletic Alum wrote:

Unfortunately, this is like a zillion other reasons why public education is bankrupt. Special programming, special needs, special populations etc. all carry heavy costs which the law mandates that local school districts bear. Thus kids in the classroom are denied an education because the public system is forced to pay for all of the "special" costs. This is one of the major reasons why the public school system is such a mess.

I am going to have to disagree with you here--"the public school system" is in varying states of mess. Some work better than others (e.g Fairfield and Napa work better than Vallejo) But There is one little piece of pertinent information buried in there--these folks lost federal funding because the VCUSD reported its enrollment as 115 (1% of the actaul enrollment) Vallejo loses all kinds of money this way---they forget the filing deadline for summer schoool reimbursement, they forget the renewal deadline for after-school grants, they do not follow the guidelines for the Small Learning COmmunity grant and have to pay back hundreds of thousands of dollars. They are going to close Hogan and have to pay back almost $200,000 in grant money. I had high hopes for Damelio, but he has succumbed to the brain-rot that infects so many folks in the DO. Perfectly reasonable, kind people become totally useless.

Same song, different verse: get thee to the school sites! GMB, I'd love to see you sharing your obviously valuable life experience with kids while showing them that most adults do care, even if some don't. I think you are probably a Christian, GMB, so go show kids how to live by the Golden Rule. You are literate, so go share your love of the written and spoken word.

I hope that some day you and I will meet while volunteering on a school campus. I'm the one smiling and helping the kids and the competent staff.

BTW, go to New Tech High School in Napa and see a school that works well for everyone. Yes, it is fully public, yes it requires more annual budget than most, but YES: it gets the results we want for our tax dollars, and for our future!!!

I was pleased to see such a nice beautiful article on this issue, my son has spent much time there and really enjoyed himself ! He was able to experiance a sense and spirit of freedom, My son has native american blood in him so this is very important. If only to be there with the other children .Whether it was drumming carving soap or simply being.

gun metal blue wrote:

it should be about how one preforms, about an individuals achivments and not about competation of one race/background against another. the overall preformance of the class as a whole is important and the overall result shows how the teacher preformed at education the class. ok, let's take the native american. it is a family and that family alone that judges how their child preformed in that class. i am sure there is far more the family can teach of values then can ever be learned in a class room. there are also things withen their tribe that is far more of personal value that is learned to them that is never known in public schools and never evualuated in the school system. one major probem this country has today is the "diversity" issue. instead of people adapting to the american way as it is refured to, the country is being divided into groups of different cultures withen each city. that only builds up wals between different races/cultures. with the native american, i look at them as a super special group that desirves to be "different", as their home lands were taken from them. they have a right to be "different". but that different is special to them because of their right to this country. i have worked with many as an adult and have always felt humbled in their presents. their insites and wisdom is amazing. while some are saying "Vallejo High School's Apache mascot is offensive", i find it inspiring, something to look up to, a symbol of heros, bravery, leadership, wisdom we can not understand and nothing to be offended by.

" i have to agree with you on the issue of mascot" we share the sam efeelings on this !

WTF Carving Soap? What tribe was that? No wonder CA NDNS lost the wars, should have carved arrows and traded for weapons...

I've lived in Vallejo for a little over a year and am full blooded American Indian. I keep hearing about a significant AI community here but have yet to connect to anyone. This is the first I've heard of such an organization in the schools -- and one I would have TOTALLY supported and engaged for my 6 year old grandson I'm raising.
There's nothing that can't be overcome with determination and SOME effort. We should all (yes ALL of us) open our minds and recognize true areas of need in our community.
And racist mascots need to GO. Think of how your children would feel if your family name was mocked and laughed at during OFFICIAL school functions. Respect is all we ask.

Why not change the mascot at Vallejo High to an indian with a bottle of whiskey in his hand pulling the handle of a slot machine. That would be more realistic.

I am surprised that teachers don't have to teach and learn different Indian languages. Don't get me wrong as I am part Cherokee but teachers have had to learn ebonics, be CLAD qualified to teach hispanics (primarily for the illegals in school) and be gay and lesbian aware (which is not bad to be tolerant and sensitive to others). However, teachers have all this to do and be able to teach the curriculum as well. Not only that, teachers have to teach to a pacing schedule and not worry about students who learn faster or slower. They have to be at a certain point in the curriculum at a certain time or else. When will it end?

gun metal blue wrote:

it should be about how one preforms, about an individuals achivments and not about competation of one race/background against another. the overall preformance of the class as a whole is important and the overall result shows how the teacher preformed at education the class. ok, let's take the native american. it is a family and that family alone that judges how their child preformed in that class. i am sure there is far more the family can teach of values then can ever be learned in a class room. there are also things withen their tribe that is far more of personal value that is learned to them that is never known in public schools and never evualuated in the school system. one major probem this country has today is the "diversity" issue. instead of people adapting to the american way as it is refured to, the country is being divided into groups of different cultures withen each city. that only builds up wals between different races/cultures. with the native american, i look at them as a super special group that desirves to be "different", as their home lands were taken from them. they have a right to be "different". but that different is special to them because of their right to this country. i have worked with many as an adult and have always felt humbled in their presents. their insites and wisdom is amazing. while some are saying "Vallejo High School's Apache mascot is offensive", i find it inspiring, something to look up to, a symbol of heros, bravery, leadership, wisdom we can not understand and nothing to be offended by.

PERforms, GMB, PERforms. And reFERRed. And presenCE. And insiGHts. And thank you for your kind words, because, I, too, am a member of an indigenous tribe. Let us offer a gift of self-respect to the children of our country, and especially those of NA origin. My cousins on the reservations in Wyoming live a hellish life, and I fear for them. Thank God my great-grandfather wouldn't allow his family to live the "rez" life, or I wouldn't be who I am and where I am today.

gun metal blue wrote:

it should be about how one preforms, about an individuals achivments and not about competation of one race/background against another. the overall preformance of the class as a whole is important and the overall result shows how the teacher preformed at education the class. ok, let's take the native american. it is a family and that family alone that judges how their child preformed in that class. i am sure there is far more the family can teach of values then can ever be learned in a class room. there are also things withen their tribe that is far more of personal value that is learned to them that is never known in public schools and never evualuated in the school system. one major probem this country has today is the "diversity" issue. instead of people adapting to the american way as it is refured to, the country is being divided into groups of different cultures withen each city. that only builds up wals between different races/cultures. with the native american, i look at them as a super special group that desirves to be "different", as their home lands were taken from them. they have a right to be "different". but that different is special to them because of their right to this country. i have worked with many as an adult and have always felt humbled in their presents. their insites and wisdom is amazing. while some are saying "Vallejo High School's Apache mascot is offensive", i find it inspiring, something to look up to, a symbol of heros, bravery, leadership, wisdom we can not understand and nothing to be offended by.

GMB, I just reread my post and I apologize for being what seems to be so cruel about the spelling. We each do the best we can with what we have. Again, I am sorry if I hurt your feelings.. I'll try to erase my post.

gun metal blue wrote:

it should be about how one preforms, about an individuals achivments and not about competation of one race/background against another. the overall preformance of the class as a whole is important and the overall result shows how the teacher preformed at education the class. ok, let's take the native american. it is a family and that family alone that judges how their child preformed in that class. i am sure there is far more the family can teach of values then can ever be learned in a class room. there are also things withen their tribe that is far more of personal value that is learned to them that is never known in public schools and never evualuated in the school system. one major probem this country has today is the "diversity" issue. instead of people adapting to the american way as it is refured to, the country is being divided into groups of different cultures withen each city. that only builds up wals between different races/cultures. with the native american, i look at them as a super special group that desirves to be "different", as their home lands were taken from them. they have a right to be "different". but that different is special to them because of their right to this country. i have worked with many as an adult and have always felt humbled in their presents. their insites and wisdom is amazing. while some are saying "Vallejo High School's Apache mascot is offensive", i find it inspiring, something to look up to, a symbol of heros, bravery, leadership, wisdom we can not understand and nothing to be offended by.

What exactly is "the American Way"? When the constitution was written it was only written for white European men, who for generations have nearly wiped out Native Americans, enslaved blacks and relagated them to 3/5 of a person, and were bigoted against Jews or Italians or anyone else that was not White Anglo-Saxon Protestant. The American Way is that white is always right and perfect and can never do wrong. White people are ANGELS! Go ahead. I already hear the protests, "You're just whining, blah, blah, blah." It's better than living in some delusional fantasy world about the "American Way."

Mary Ann B wrote:

I've lived in Vallejo for a little over a year and am full blooded American Indian. I keep hearing about a significant AI community here but have yet to connect to anyone. This is the first I've heard of such an organization in the schools -- and one I would have TOTALLY supported and engaged for my 6 year old grandson I'm raising.
There's nothing that can't be overcome with determination and SOME effort. We should all (yes ALL of us) open our minds and recognize true areas of need in our community.
And racist mascots need to GO. Think of how your children would feel if your family name was mocked and laughed at during OFFICIAL school functions. Respect is all we ask.

Think about how Irish Americans feel about being represented as "The Fighting Irish", wiht a mascot of a Leprechaun? Oh, yeah. We don't care. Get over it.

New to Vallejo wrote:

<quoted text> What exactly is "the American Way"? When the constitution was written it was only written for white European men, who for generations have nearly wiped out Native Americans, enslaved blacks and relagated them to 3/5 of a person, and were bigoted against Jews or Italians or anyone else that was not White Anglo-Saxon Protestant. The American Way is that white is always right and perfect and can never do wrong. White people are ANGELS! Go ahead. I already hear the protests, "You're just whining, blah, blah, blah." It's better than living in some delusional fantasy world about the "American Way."

What exactly is "the American Way"? when you have to ask that question, it is for sure you wouldn't know if it bit you in the a s s so there is no sense in wasting time trying to make you understand what that is! yes, the whites and others did try to either wipe out or enslave them on plots of land. the blacks that were "enslaved" here were ALREADY slaves mostly captured by BLACKS of their own country and sold or traded to slave traders. the first batch of slaves were traded for food here. they were not captured by people here, but were brought here by people of another country. check your history books. "bigoted against Jews or Italians or anyone else that was not White Anglo-Saxon Protestant." well, seems they do not spend their time filled with hate over it and have blended in so well they "all look alike". ever hear of world war II? no matter what race or skin color when an american soldier was seen, they were called americans and it didn't matter if it was "friend or foe!" check also and see the great roll the native american played in that war. as for the person that made the comment they would like to see me at schools teaching children, i don't stand out. i am the kind you could stand next to and never see.

gun metal blue wrote:

it should be about how one preforms, about an individuals achivments and not about competation of one race/background against another. the overall preformance of the class as a whole is important and the overall result shows how the teacher preformed at education the class. ok, let's take the native american. it is a family and that family alone that judges how their child preformed in that class. i am sure there is far more the family can teach of values then can ever be learned in a class room. there are also things withen their tribe that is far more of personal value that is learned to them that is never known in public schools and never evualuated in the school system. one major probem this country has today is the "diversity" issue. instead of people adapting to the american way as it is refured to, the country is being divided into groups of different cultures withen each city. that only builds up wals between different races/cultures. with the native american, i look at them as a super special group that desirves to be "different", as their home lands were taken from them. they have a right to be "different". but that different is special to them because of their right to this country. i have worked with many as an adult and have always felt humbled in their presents. their insites and wisdom is amazing. while some are saying "Vallejo High School's Apache mascot is offensive", i find it inspiring, something to look up to, a symbol of heros, bravery, leadership, wisdom we can not understand and nothing to be offended by.

You seem value the offensive mascot over the feelings of the people that you claim inspire you. You really don't get it...

It is obvious from the postings that we have all learned with a bias depending on the family, place or country, and time in which we were born. Some of us accepted only the influences of our childhood and held steadfast. Some as adults have continued to learn.

The first books on history of this nation had been written with a prejudice against the indigenous or the brown-skinned and that slant has been taught in our school systems (even today, as the world celebrates the tearing down of the Berlin Wall the USA sends incredible amounts of "Homeland Security" moneys building a wall to keep indigenous out. There is a miss-placed blame directed against the brown-skinned, perhaps, due to fear, prejudice or ignorance.

There is a lot of discussion of the "melting-pot" and what a good thing it is however, many agree that we must also be concerned that our young grow with no compassion for those different, little self-identity or poor morals.
No child should be made to feel bad about who they are. All should grow with a firm foundation of pride, respect and community.

The NAS program shares some truth with the students as to where their ancestors have been; it helps them to know where they are going. There are everyday things we all share that are not always taught in the mainstream classroom.

At one time, survival skills taught that nothing was wasted and that respect was given to all elements of the earth. All were stewards. Some 75% of the kinds of the foods we eat (such as beans, corn, potatoes, tomatoes, and squashes), originated with the indigenous farmers of the Americas. The Constitution has elements that originated with some of the Native American Indians.