Opening Doors to Wisdom: Working Together for Our Children

• Published in: Action in teacher education Vol. 24; no. 2; pp. 34 - 41
• Main Authors: Klug, Beverly J., Hall, Janice L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 01-06-2002
• Subjects: American Indians; College School Cooperation; Consciousness Raising; Cultural Awareness; Diversity (Student); Elementary Secondary Education; Faculty Development; Higher Education; Idaho State University; Inservice Teacher Education; Learning Communities; Partnerships in Education; Preservice Teacher Education; Shoshone Bannock (Tribe)
• ISSN: 0162-6620; 2158-6098
• DOI: 10.1080/01626620.2002.10734417

The Partnership School Program at Idaho State University has provided a means to educate both preservice and inservice teachers about Native cultures, values and ways of knowing. Of the nine public schools involved in the program, one is located on the Shoshone-Bannock Indian Reservation at Ft. Hall, Idaho. By applying the principles of constructivist teaching and working together as communities of learners, many changes have occurred in the preservice and inservice teachers' attitudes towards and perceptions of the Indigenous children. Improved cross-cultural understandings, equitable learning opportunities, positive interactions with the community, and greater teacher efficacy have emerged as a result of the program.