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53 The morning was beautiful and clear. I waited in the large staff meeting room located in a doublewide trailer adjacent to the main building. I looked out the window up the hill as the morning breeze kneaded the prairie grass in a gentle swaying dance. The room was quiet and a bit dark. The only light came from the windows lining the trailer, but a hill still partially blocked the bright sun.The participant came into the room; after exchanging introductions and a few pleasantries, we sat in undersized chairs at a large table. The teacher had grown up in this isolated community of the reservation and had served the school for more than twenty years. During that time, she had been everything from bus driver to third grade teacher, her current position. No one could begin to estimate her investment in the children, the school, and the community . We progressed through the interview, eventually arriving at a discussion on the challenges associated with serving as an educator on the reservation. The exchange revealed a raw emotional wound produced by her two decades of service. Being where I am from, I know the people. I know the families. The students see that and know that I am from this community. So I think I have more of a bond with them. Even the parents, the students I had at the beginning [of her teaching career], I’m teaching their children now. [Laughs.] It makes you feel older but it’s good. You have that respect. They are so cooperative. It’s not 100 percent parental involvement, but we’re kind of isolated from the communities anyway. A lot of them don’t have cars to chapter 3 Challenges Are Every Day Prevailing Challenges Facing the Educators Challenges are every day. Challenges are just getting kids here. Challenges are trying to make sure these kids come in and we got breakfast bars here. A lot of times they don’t come with breakfast. Challenges are the parents may be fighting or are the parents even there? Challenges are, Where is the kid going to go at the end of the school day? Make sure he gets home. Is it safe there? We sometimes have to call the cops to make sure it’s a safe home. Challenges are every day. —Montana principal reflecting on dealing with challenges facing reservation schools 54 a m e r i c a n i n d i a n e d u c at o r s i n r e s e r v at i o n s c h o o l s come in or they don’t have telephones. Usually it’s by notes. But I try to communicate with them. And if a student is absent a lot, I make the phone call and if I can’t talk to them I try to go out to their house and see what’s going on. Because of alcoholism, a lot of the students have a hard life and it’s sad. [She grows very intent and begins to cry.] I’m sorry. [Soon she is weeping.] Her anguish touched me greatly and I managed a feeble, “Bless your heart.” After a long pause to compose, she resumed her thoughts as the tears continued to flow. They just have a hard life. It has so many effects from it besides attendance. Because of poverty, no employment, and just stuff like that. And the students can’t help it. It’s not their fault. But I think it affects them a lot with their learning because they all have this block. It’s hard for them to retain information. So it’s like reteaching every day. And it’s usually around the first of the month that is the hardest for them, I think. I guess they can adjust, but it’s hard for them to have parents that drink all weekend and then come to school and be a student, ready to learn. It’s hard for them because they are thinking about, “Oh, what’s going to happen when I go home today? Is my mom and dad going to be drinking?” So it’s really hard for them. But I think that when they are here, it’s safe. It’s a safe place for them and they get their meals here, two meals anyway. Sometimes , for some of them, that’s their only meals. But it...

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