The National Geographic and Record Eagle articles about the Native American boarding

schools were the two that stayed with me the most this week. I’ve read about the awful news
from the Canadian-run indigenous schools over the last few weeks, and I couldn't help but
wonder how unjust and cruel the American system must have been. What I read in Nat Geo
was hardly surprising, unfortunately. Children being ripped away from their families, forced to
speak English and forget their native tongues...it’s tough to grasp. It’s heartening to read that
Secretary Haaland is using the federal government’s resources to investigate the conduct of
these schools, and hopefully to heal some of the wounds caused by the schools.
I grew up near Okemos, MI. Their nickname is the Chieftains, and that was pretty much
the only reminder that we were on Native land. Michigan is full of towns, lakes, and rivers
named after native tribes, and I think most people would have no clue about it. I can’t shake the
feeling that the ultimate goal of those boarding schools was to completely marginalize native
Americans. Worse, I think they achieved that goal. The Record Eagle article had some seriously
powerful quotes from Native people living in Northern Michigan. They are angry and justifiably
cynical that the government can actually mend any of the damage caused by the federal
government of years past.

I also looked up my school district’s mission statement this week. I’ll paste it below:

The mission of Grand Blanc Community Schools, the hallmark of academic and personal excellence, is
to ensure students actualize their own unique genius, freely and without fear, through a system
distinguished by:
• Dedication to the discovery of profound learning
• Exemplary models of character and judgment
• Global experiences in life and living
• Emphasis on individual autonomy and self-direction
• Unremitting pursuit of the highest human ideals

I actually quite like it--I think it is broad but not quite out of touch, if that makes sense. I
like that it includes the term “unique genius”. I believe that every student brings something to
that table that nobody else can. It can be anything, really. It could be musical talent, an ability to
do complex math, a sense of humor...it’s limitless. But every student should have a space and
freedom to realize that unique genius, and to share their ability with others. It’s something I try to
achieve in my own classroom, and I’m happy that my district emphasizes it in their statement.