About Apache Tribe Education
The Apache tribe embraces their culture as a vital part of the tribal lifestyle, but children raised in a traditional environment can feel isolated and anxious when attending a mainstream school.
This, along with economic factors, leads to a perpetual cycle of high drop-out rates and lack of academically-successful role models for the children to view as mentors.
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Geography
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The Apache tribes mainly live in Arizona and New Mexico, along with small populations in surrounding states and Mexico. Much of New Mexico and Arizona land is tribal, and these states have come to recognize the importance of better education for Native American citizens. By the late 1960s, the United States began placing a greater emphasis on higher education and vocational training for Native Americans, with the cooperation of federal, state, and local agencies providing financial aid and program administration.
History
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Historically, Apache children began their daily responsibilities around the age of eight, when they were expected to assist their parents with regular chores. Girls watched younger children, gathered wood, seaweed and helped with cooking. Boys assisted with hunting preparation, and in their teens, participated in the hunts.
Children also learned about Apache legends, ceremonies, and spiritual practices.
With the relocation of Native American people to reservations, their children were expected to attend school, but many avoided it. Even by the 1960s, few Apache members were graduating from high school. The tribe opposed the lifestyle and beliefs of non-Natives and formal schooling conflicted with their culture.
There also was a great deal of poverty which meant children didn't have appropriate clothing and could not afford school supplies. Poverty still is a significant problem, but much more financial aid has become available since the late 1960s to help more Indian children attend school. -
Features
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Currently, Native American agencies are working to preserve the Apache culture while also ensuring that the children are well-educated. Head Start has been an important part of this mission, working with children who arrive at school unable to speak English and also with children who have no experience with the Apache language. Head Start teachers created bilingual courses which have shown great success in teaching both languages side by side.
Considerations
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By the late 1990s, Indian education had improved a great deal. Nearly 25,000 students from over 200 tribes were enrolled in tribal community colleges. However, there are continuing difficulties. Over half the students are single parents and almost all the students live in poverty. Alcohol and drug use are significant problems.
The community colleges work to help students find good-paying jobs or to continue on to a four-year college, but salaries of these community college graduates still typically start at under $20,000.
Native American students have the highest high school drop-out rate in the United States at 35 percent as of 2005. This is about twice the national average. Native American students also have the highest college drop-out rate in the United States, and only about four percent of them ever earn a bachelor's degree. Unemployment rates on the reservations run as high as 86%.
It remains very difficult for most tribal members to adjust to life outside the family and tribal world.
Prevention/Solution
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Head Start also is addressing the widespread issue of alcohol and drug abuse on the reservations. The White Mountain Apache tribe, for instance, working with the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation, is implementing a strategic K to 12 program involving public awareness, prevention, early identification and treatment.
Shades of Change is a program of the White Mountain and Jicarilla Apache designed to improve children's skills in math and science. The project is partially funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
The University of Arizona's Office of Native American Programs coordinates educational and problem-solving programs on the state's reservations. These include agriculture, 4-H youth development, family and consumer education and community leadership resource development.
The university also has a coordinator of American Indian activities whose job is completely dedicated to enhancing success for Native American university students. Recruitment and community outreach in both Arizona and New Mexico are major parts of this program. About 600 Native American students currently attend the University of Arizona.
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