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Behavior Improvement in Bilingual Students of Native American
Background Involving Academic Discipline
Sister Juana Lucero
Marlene Kotchou, Nyla Antone, Topawa Middle School, Sells, Arizona
Subject: Social Studies/Behavioral change
Grade: 4-5
"Pictures taken and used in discussion were effective because
the students got more out of taking pictures themselves....they
actually got excited."
Purpose and Description of Project
Fifteen Native American students identified as having behavioral
difficulties in the classroom - probably as a result of academic
difficulties - were selected for participation in this project.
These students, members of the Papago tribe, worked with the three
participating teachers individually and in small groups to eliminate
such inappropriate behaviors as destruction of property, aggression,
name calling, classroom disruption, and simply doing nothing in
class. The teachers also hoped to develop the students' awareness
of the interrelationships among Indian and Western cultures and
to help them become confident and respectful of these cultures.
The major goals were "to help them become aware of better
ways to make their lives happier and more rewarding," and
to give them a brighter outlook toward education.
Activities
Five students were assigned to each helping teacher. A series
of three or four informal individual meetings were held between
each student and helping teacher to get acquainted and increase
student confidence and trust. Then the students began to meet
in their groups once a week for 15 to 20 minutes during the noon
hour. During these sessions, they defined inappropriate behavior
and good behavior, and discussed how to help others become better
behaved and more respectful of others' right to learn. Speaking
to others and reacting to others' ideas were important aspects
of these meetings.
Resource persons presented aspects of Papago culture, including
the values of behavior and the respect of the Indian people for
life. They answered students' questions and classroom teachers
explained behaviors valued in Western life. Students used Kodak
cameras
to photograph Papago dances and rites as well
as school happenings that reflected Western culture; these photos
then became the basis for future discussions. The helping teachers
continually encouraged the students to do well in the classroom
and held conferences with the parents involved to ensure their
cooperation and support of their children's efforts.
Materials, Resources, and Expenses
School district personnel including the principal, the cultural
resource aide, and the counselor met with the students to discuss
self discipline, self respect, and good behavior. A number of
Indian speakers talked with the students about Papago culture
and traditions, rituals and dances, their experiences living off
the reservation, and the importance of education in improving
individual lives as well as Indian life as a whole. A group of
Indian dancers and singers demonstrated traditional Papago ceremonies.
The camera, used constantly throughout the project, was
the only equipment used.
Outcomes and Adaptability
It became apparent that "with this repetition of Native culture
and Western culture ideas, the students gained a little better
insight about some things that might help them to become better
informed persons." The use of the camera to record cultural
activities particularly excited the students, many of whom had
never used a camera before. As a whole, students did show behavioral
changes-some more than others-and there was evidence of greater
understanding of right from wrong. One outcome not anticipated
was the degree to which students turned to the helping teachers
for even more help, making it necessary to turn them back carefully
toward school work and their classroom teachers.
The three helping teachers suggest that such a project can help
resolve behavior problems in other settings. While aspects of
Indian and Western cultures provided the central value theme,
to show that both are important and should be respected by the
Native American student, other important values could be used
in different situations.