Volume 14 Number 2
January 1975

The Parent Education Program (PEP) at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls symbolizes the enthusiasm of a group of Indian parents who decided to provide continuing education for themselves and other Wisconsin Indians.

The program was conceived in 1971 by Mrs. Veda Stone, then director of the Wisconsin Demonstration in Indian Educational Opportunities and presently director of Native American Studies at Mount Senario College in Ladysmith. During the first year, an organizational group of 60 Indian adults, who came from distances of up to 300 miles, enrolled in the PEP courses at the UW-River Falls. Now under the direction of Ray DePerry, director of the UW-River Falls Native American Outreach Program, PEP has more than 200 participants. Most of the students, ranging in age from 18 to 65, are not high school graduates.

During the first year, students studied legislative provisions for education, the administration of local school systems and how to be teacher-aides and para-professionals. Courses were conducted by UW-River Falls faculty members two days each month and earned university credit. Many of the participants became active on community Indian education committees and some were home and school coordinators: for their local school systems.

As the number of students grew, the course offerings also expanded. Participants suggested and helped design the courses. For instance, in the summer of 1972 a practical writing workshop was conducted by a member of the UW-River Falls department of journalism. Students improved their writing and learned to prepare news articles, publicity, reports and proposals.

A course titled "Indian PEP and the Law" was offered to second- and third-year students this fall. The course was designed by Mrs. Stone and John Wiley, director of Wisconsin Judicare, and taught by Wiley and 17 other lawyers, judges and district attorneys. English, sociology, speech and art courses have been added to the program.

PEP students are now working toward Associate degrees and are moving into the University's regular curriculum. Some participants have left the program to attend colleges and universities near their home towns.

PEP is endorsed by the Great Lakes Intertribal Council education committee. Early support came from the West Central Wisconsin Community Action Program. The Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs provides funding and the state Higher Educational Aids Board makes educational grants available. The academic portion of the program is mainly provided by the UW-River Falls.

PEP coordinator Ray DePerry came to River Falls after serving as assistant director of the Upward Bound Program at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.