Module VII - Education

Most Northerly Public School House in U.S.
Cape Prince of Wales 1929 
VILDA ASL-P44-01-125

No matter where you are, we're glad you're here! 



Essential Questions

• How have the settlement patterns of Alaska been a reflection of the natural landscape, distance, resources, and the economy?

• How have the ways Alaskans have devised education and health care systems been both a reflection of socio-cultural norms of the dominant culture as well as a

  

  Farthest West American School - Adak
  late 1940's  VILDA UAF-18-985-12-1

  response to the challenges of providing services in a vast geographic area? 
• To what degree is there distinctiveness in the art, literature, science, recreation, and cultural institutions of Alaska?  In what way do these contribute to, or reflect, a unique Alaska identity?

ENGAGE

Education in Alaska - this is our story
As Alaska educators, we have inherited the legacy of education in Alaska.  The story of education in Alaska has included many players with a variety of intentions and approaches, and has been played out in diverse communities over a vast landscape.  

Rev. Sheldon Jackson 1899
VILDA ASL-Jackson-Sheldon-1

The results and consequences have been mixed by any analysis. There is little dispute about the destructive impact of efforts by some early educators (as part of a broader policy) to forbid the usage of Native languages in school, or the efforts to civilize Native students to fit a perceived model of assimilation.  

The process of learning from those mistakes and to design and incorporate authentic education programs and practices for Alaskan students from all backgrounds have occupied education policy makers over the last half century.

When starting a study of education in Alaska during the American period, the topic of religion must  be included.  And, tightly aligned, especially in rural Alaska, is the story of disease and health care.  These topics cannot be separated.   

Education - Religion - Health Care
How and why are these so closely intertwined?  If you have worked and/or traveled in rural Alaska, have you ever wondered why certain mainline churches are located in certain regions of the state? You can hold Sheldon Jackson responsible.  

Boarding Students, St. Mark's Episcopal Mission
Nenana  1924  VILDA UAF-1991-46-782

Faced with limited funds and the task of providing for education in Alaska, in the mid-1880's Jackson went to the mission boards of mainline Protestant churches for their help. Alaska was essentially carved up between them, which accounts for the Episcopal Church focusing on northeastern AK. 

Think about how this makes perfect sense. This area had been where Hudson Bay Co. employees (Anglicans) had been working until forced back across the border to Canada. 

St. Mark's Mission School and Hospital
Nenana  ca. 1924 VILDA UAF-1985-72-97

The Moravians took southwest Alaska; the Presbytarians focused on the arctic region as well as Southeast Alaska.  The Methodists took Unalaska, and the Society of Friends went to the Seward Peninsula and northwest Alaska.  Soon after, the Catholic church established missions on the lower and middle Yukon River areas.   

While the use of public funds for mission schools was later challenged and ended, the churches gained a foothold and continued to provide both education and health care for decades. (Note: The Russian Orthodox Church continued to run some schools until the Russian Revolution of 1917 cut off all ties and funding from the Mother church in Russia.

Jesse Lee Home,(Methodist Orphanage)Seward 
(note camouflage paint applied during WW II) 
late 1940's, VILDA ASL-Seward-22

As you will discover in the readings for this section, early formal education in Alaska took on many forms; it was funded and administered  in various places at different times by local governments, the territorial government, or the federal government, or by mainline churches, as well as businesses such as the Alaska Commercial Co. and mining or logging companies.

The goal for the systems typically was to provide a mainstream American public education which reinforced the American way of life for the Euro-American students and which acted as a cultural change agent for the Native students.

Children at Jesse Lee Home, Seward
late 1940's VILDA SCL-7-30

The cultural-political values of the times resulted in a dual system of education which separated Native and Euro-American students in the incorporated towns.  As in the segregated schools of the rest of the U.S., the quality of education varied dramatically.

As you cover the readings and look at the historical photos, play particular attention to the Bureau of Education and later the Bureau of Indian Affairs which, until the mid-1980's, was responsible for rural education. Take note of the role of the mission schools, which often operated orphanages and hospitals.  Take notice of the challenges of providing education in rural Alaska and ask yourself what might draw someone to teach in Alaska during this time. 

Indian Day School Sitka 1938
VILDA  AMRC-b75-175-587

Until the late 1970's, rural education was only offered to grade 8.  Students wishing a high school education left their communities for mission schools, territorial/state regional high schools, BIA boarding schools (both in and out of Alaska), or they boarded with family/friends living in urban areas.

Even though desegregation had become the law of the day, this situation was essentially de facto segregation.   A landmark lawsuit against the state (Molly Hootch case) resulted in public high schools being established in rural communities.  Those schools allowed students to stay in their villages for high school; now, thirty years later, the strengths and weaknesses of these schools are still being analyzed and debated.

Students from Shungnak
Departing for Boarding School
early 1960's (on a Wien plane)
VILDA UAF-1991-98-684

Education in incorporated towns and cities of Alaska followed the traditional model of schools supported by a combination of local property taxes and supplemental funding by the territory/state and federal government.  Elected school boards hired superintendents to hire staff and run programs.  

Most of these schools looked very much like American schools in the lower '48, with differences based on the high costs of school building and maintenance and the distances students travel for interscholastic competition.

Today the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development is responsible for public education from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. School districts range from those of municipalities (boroughs and first class cities) to the large REAA's (Rural Education Attendance Areas - includes second class cities).  

Funding for schools in boroughs and first class cities in generated from local and state sources, while funding for schools in the REAA's is primarily from the state. Various types of federal funding is available for all districts.  

Juneau-Douglas High School 2011
(Alma Mater, C. Good 1975-78, 1984-2007)
jdhs.juneauschools.org

Many different education models exist today, ranging from a traditional system to language immersion schools to diverse charter school alternatives. 

Schools all over Alaska are dealing with ever increasing diversity of students which present unique challenges and continue the discussion over the role of schools on the issues of acculturation, assimilation, and cultural identity. 

Other ongoing issues involve funding and school construction and maintenance.



EXAMINE

• 

  Teller Territorial School and
  Teacher's Quarters ca. 1942
  VILDA ASL-MS146-06-46B-3

  What types of schools existed in Alaska from the late 1800's to mid-1980's? (Think funding, administration, facilities, curriculum.)
• What role did Sheldon Jackson play in creating an early education system for Alaska?
• In what ways did formal education change the culture of Alaska Natives?
• What is the general administrative structure of public education in Alaska today?

EXPLORE

 




From Alaska's Heritage, read:

• Chapter 4-20: Education

Also from the Alaska History course, please read the essay by Paul Ongtooguk which addresses the history of and current issues pertaining to education of Alaska Native children:

• Education and Cultural Self-Determination

EXPLORE SOME MORE....
These two sites provide informative articles and links to other sources which examine the history of education for Alaska Native students.  Take a look as you have time.

• Alaskool

• Alaska Native Knowledge Network  

Alaska, InDEED!
The DEED website has an excellent map of the 50+ school districts, plus it's the primary source site for everything about the education system in Alaska today, from certification to testing to standards, and more!

• Alaska Department of Education and Early Development  

EXTEND

Alaska School Districts
Note: This map is available at
State Dept. of Education/Early Dev.

There are few topics which engender more debate than what constitutes the most appropriate  public education. Everyone has a stake in the outcome, and everyone has an opinion on the results of past practices.  There are social, political, and economic dimensions of the issue, and emotions run high.  

The legacy of much of Alaska's past education policies continues to be played out, and is the subject on on-going research and discussion. The former policies of education as the agent of assimilation continue to be pointed out as one factor in some of the socio-cultural ills in Alaska today.  

East High School, Anchorage
winchesteralaska.com

Others point out the improved literacy, business acumen, life expectancy, unique skill development that are results and by-products of the mainstream education system.  

While there is ample Monday morning quarterbacking to keep the debate going, it is helpful to be cautious about judging intentions of individual educators who were, for the most part, doing the best that they knew how to do in the situation.  

We who are currently teaching understand the difference between what happens in the individual classroom, or within a school, and the larger system of education policy making and funding.

Alaska today is a multi-cultural state.  The education system's role is to be both a reflection of that diversity as well as provide leadership for the future.

Questions For Your Consideration:

• 

  Fort Yukon School 2011
  redsnowschu.wordpress.com

  What is the type of education system in your area?  
• What is the history of your school/system?  
• What is the legacy of education into where you live?  
• What are the remnants of the legacy that affect how your live and work in your current setting?

What's Next?

What if you had a toothache 100 years ago? Let's explore - Health and Medicine