By
Nick Zeckets
Last week, education became an issue in the Presidential campaign. While Vice President Al Gore continues to gain ground in the polls, George W. Bush touts his new education plan that calls for $900 million in spending for Native American schools - a plan immediately countered by Gore's $115 billion education proposal. However, Gore only allows for $300 million in Native American school funding. Ultimately, neither proposal will even dent the problem.
Gore's successful performance in Los Angeles at the Democratic Convention pressed George W. and the boys of the GOP to fire back with strong initiatives on liberal issues. Where did the Republicans go with their fury? Education.
School funding and curriculum modernization is going to be an increasingly important topic in this year's elections. Consistently weak national test scores and the presence of a technology education vacuum have caused great concerns among the Americans. If the future is stupid, it's not too bright.
One of the biggest education reform issues for this election year will be minority education. On August 19th, from Mesilla, NM, Bush told the Washington Post that "we're committed to a goal of betters schools in every community, from the inner cities to the tribal lands of states like New Mexico and Arizona and Colorado." He further noted that "We better challenge the status quo, because there's no second-rate children in America, or second rate dreams."
Undoubtedly, a major social cleavage exists between whites and minorities in education. Poorer communities tend to be inhabited by minorities and receive relative funding based upon property taxes, which, in a poor community, are very minimal. Basing funding that way isn't always fair and for Native Americans it's horrible.
According to 1998 SAT statistics Native Americans had an average test score of 963 while whites averaged 1053 and the nation as a whole averaged 1017. Native Americans are not among the lowest scorers, but are certainly at a disadvantage and could certainly perform better given the proper education and funding.
Bruce Meyers, former director of Native American Student Affairs, told the Arizona Daily Wildcat in February that getting American Indians to attend the UA was improving, but that keeping them here was becoming more difficult. Furthermore, University statistics show that, among ethnic groups, American Indians had the lowest share of new enrollments with 2.2 percent. Bush's plan may bring the funding necessary to show students at Indian Schools the benefits of college and perhaps attending the UA.
Native American Student Affairs have a new director now, Karen Francis Begay. When asked what she thought about the two parties' education platforms, she said "I don't think that's [$900 million] is fair."
When asked about what direction Native American education funding should take, Begay indicated that "Funds need to go to K-12 education" as "the quality of education for K-12 is not adequate to prepare our students." "They need resources...in my opinion it's not nearly enough."
Although education is generally a state and/or local responsibility, Native American education is a federal obligation. Reservations are maintained and funded by Washington and that includes education. Reservations and Native American schools are in shambles, a point that should hit home for a number of UA students hailing from such neglected conditions.
It is commendable that some have emerged from such situations and matriculated here, becoming our peers. However, if the issue continues to go unanswered, there may be fewer Native Americans making it this far.
Bush's plan calls for the renovation and repair of 185 Indian schools in 23 states, many of which are in Arizona. Arizona's state expenditures for education already rank last in the nation and the reservations receive little.
Gore is heralding education as his primary initiative, but for Arizona and her Native American students it's simply not enough. Neither plan is going to truly help and both parties are just pandering to Native Americans for scrap votes come November.
Ms. Begay sums up most voters' sentiments well when saying, "Neither candidate is that appealing to me." Indeed, both are paying lip service and promising weak funding. Hopefully American Indian education will become a more serious issue. Otherwise, our nation's progenitors may be left outside the system.
