Sherman Alexie believes that, success these days are only viable through proper education. He puts more emphasis on education within the Native American culture in this plot. In these modern days not only in America but all over the world education is playing the vital role. Education can save people, save them from poverty and unemployment; it generates an opportunity to be able to take care of one’s family. Alexie saved himself from failure and he wants to save the youth of reservation through education.
In the quote “Writing is something beyond Indians”, Alexie put forward the popular trend of Native Americans to think themselves as non competitive in changing world. They feel that they are expected to fail in the non-Indian world. Even in the school the weak one who feels that they have already been defeated sits in the back seat ignoring the education.Alexie however did not believe in this trend and transformed himself into educated and competitive to the changing world. He taught himself to read and was always interested in the books. According to Alexie, most of the Native Americans keeps themselves away from education thinking it’s beyond their reach but what they should realize is, enthusiasm and practice will make them pass through this stereotype thinking. Alexie is the perfect example for the youth in the reservation as he gave a new direction for this kind of stereotypical thoughts.
Hi Sujan,
ReplyDeleteYour post has me thinking of the ways schools will work to both set high expectations for students and to build confidence.
If a student is defeated, then like the students in Alexie's essay, he or she will refuse to engage on an emotional and intellectual level; she or he will resign to the belief that it's impossible to learn. If a student believes this, I imagine it will make schooling torturous. I can't imagine having to daily endure school when one's core belief is that he or she can't learn and will never find success.
Perhaps this is the reason schools make a huge effort to instill pride and confidence in students. School is hard enough without having to fear one's ability to meet the challenge. In terms of high expectations, it sends a message to students about how you perceive them. If there are low expectations, students might think the teacher doesn’t believe they can do better.
Thanks for your insights.
Take care,
Lauren
I love your post! I totally agree with it. And I agree with the comment above me 100%. Schools these days, well the schools I went too, some teachers are different then others. Some really encourage you to do your best and even when you think you've done your best you can always better with that little push. It happened to me all throughout school and when I got those teachers it really made me actually like to learn when others just didnt care. And good thing for Alexie, because now people and Indians specifically can know that they can become something and get out there in the normal work world, and expect more of themselves then what people have stereotyped them to be.
ReplyDeleteI too agree with Hailey. The teachers that pushed me to do better always gave me the motivation to do well in the class or assignment. We need more hands on teachers these days. I think it would make a large difference in are school systems. It's good that Alexie is such an accomplished writer coming from poverty and the culture he was from. He is a great role model for other indians who may think that just because there society sees them as like you mentioned non competitive into the changing world.
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