Misconceptions About Field Matrons in Native American Schools

Misconceptions About Field Matrons in Native American SchoolsIn my previous article about the shortcomings of the samples used in the MOOC, I spoke about the oversimplification that is so much a part of the teaching methodology of the English as a Foreign Language (EFFL) course at the University of Chicago. However, it was also clear that the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and other sources, such as the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), are having little influence on the treatment of Native American women in Indian Schools.The article that I published was full of criticisms of the practice of stereotyping Native American women in Indian Schools. One glaring example was the use of an otherwise valid sample essay about women in Indian Schools, but not being allowed to include Native American women in the sample; something that does not seem to be any concern of the publishers of the EFFL course at the University of Chicago.In fact, what I had criticized w as not just the use of a sample essay, but rather the failure to include women in the US government as examples of successful Native American women. While the examples were probably presented to all the students in the class, why not also include women in other social groups, such as corporations or the law? These examples of successful and non-successful women have been mentioned repeatedly throughout the course.In my next article, I will talk about the problems with the use of field matrons in EFFL course at the University of Chicago. In this article, however, I want to address the misconceptions and myths surrounding the practice of employing field matrons as part of the study of the Native American experience.First of all, I believe that one of the most important aspects of employing women's field matrons is the ability to gain firsthand knowledge of the lives of NativeAmericans. The other thing that is very important is that the women who are being placed in these positions are also actually Native American women. As a result, they must live in tribes, they can not just return to civilization after being on the reservation.To fully understand the experiences of the Native American women, they need to interact with other women, as well as with men. This is not the case for men; and in fact, most men are still in their contemporary culture, which is where most of the current issues concerning problems on reservations can be resolved.These women are going to be in charge of teaching their own children, whether they are on the reservation or not. At the same time, they have to be able to interact with men in a culturally respectful manner. They have to know their place in society.The experience that these women have with their own child is probably going to be the most important part of the book, that they are willing to share it with others. A significant issue has to do with getting back to their culture. This is not an easy task, and may be an ongoing proc ess for the mothers.