free boarding – An IB Theory of Knowledge teacher describes how students are repeatedly shocked by the crimes and tragedies of U.S. and Canadian Native American boarding schools—and says a free lesson offer from a healing coalition can help educators teach the subject with ca
In IB Theory of Knowledge classes, the lesson never feels abstract. It hits quickly.
When I taught about Indigenous Societies and Knowledge. I always built in lessons about the crime and tragedy of U.S. and Canadian boarding schools. The reaction was immediate and consistent. My students—half of whom were typically members of Indigenous communities themselves—were always shocked by what they learned.
I kept thinking about what I wished I had known earlier. There were lessons I didn’t have yet, and they mattered. I wish I had known about the boarding school lessons offered free by The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition.
The lessons are connected to a broader conversation taking shape right now. including a piece described in today’s AP article: “As Native American boarding schools project ends. survivors describe feeling honored and restored.” That reporting. paired with free classroom materials from the coalition. changes the way educators can approach a topic that so many students meet for the first time with disbelief.
In my classroom—and in how I share resources beyond it—I’m adding this information to a set of collections aimed at helping teachers and students grapple with what Native Americans face in schools. That includes “RESOURCES ON CHALLENGES NATIVE AMERICANS FACE IN SCHOOLS” and “The Best Sites For International Day Of The World’s Indigenous People.”.
Native American boarding schools Indigenous education IB Theory of Knowledge National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition AP article survivors honored and restored education resources Indigenous societies and knowledge U.S. and Canadian boarding schools
So it’s just like, a free lesson? Cool.
I read that and I’m like… why are kids only learning this now? But also schools already teach Native stuff, so I don’t get why this is “new.”
Boarding schools ended and survivors felt honored and restored… so does that mean the apology fixed everything? I mean I’m glad they’re honored but I feel like that’s PR wording. Also IB Theory of Knowledge sounds like it should be more “neutral” not centered on tragedies?
Why is this even a resource thing like teachers need a coalition to talk about it? That’s wild to me. Also “shocked by the crimes and tragedies” like… aren’t we supposed to teach history without the shock factor? My cousin said something about this years ago, like it’s all connected to land stuff, but I never saw it in a class so I guess this helps.