Journal of American Indian Education-Arizona State University

Journal of American Indian Education

Volume 28 Number 1
October 1988

A SURVEY: ATTITUDES TOWARD THE EDUCATION OF AMERICAN INDIANS

John W. Tippeconnic III

During the 1987-88 academic year a national sample of American Indian educators were asked a series of questions designed to obtain general attitudes toward the education of American Indians. The intent was to gather and present data in a number of areas of interest to Indian educators. A few of the questions were patterned after the questions asked in the 19th Annual Gallup Poll of the Public's Attitudes Toward the Public Schools published in the September 1987 issue of Phi Delta Kappan.

The findings that relate to current issues, perceived improvement of Indian education, and perceptions about research are presented in the tables below. "Lack of funding" was identified as the most important issue facing Indian education at both the national and state levels (Tables 1 and 2). Thirty-five percent of the sample felt that the education of American Indians "improved" at both the national and state levels during the past five years; yet, 33.3 percent felt it had "gotten worse" at the national level (Tables 3 and 4). Approximately 93 percent of the sample indicated a need for more research in the education of American Indians (Table 5); however, only 21.8 percent knew of meaningful research being conducted at the present time (Table 6).

No attempt was made to analyze or interpret the data. It is suggested that the reader study the data, make observations, and draw appropriate conclusions.

Most Important Problems Facing American Indian Education

TABLE 1
Question: What are the five most important issues facing the education of
American Indians today? Think of the issues from a national point of view.
Rank the issues from most important to fifth most important.

	Number	%
Lack of funding	29	50.9
Need for qualified Indian administrators/educators	16	28.1
Curriculum issues	16	28.1
Financial Aid for college/university students	13	22.8
Academic achievement	12	21.1
Drop-outs/Leaving school	11	19.3
Parent involvement	9	15.8
Teacher preparation/training	8	14.0
Self-determination/sovereignty/trust/responsibility	8	14.0
Drugs/substance abuse	8	14.0
Non-Indians' understanding/cooperating with Indians	8	14.0
Lack of leadership	7	12.3
Quality Indian education programs	7	12.3
Student self-esteem and motivation	7	12.3
Indian education legislation	7	12.3
BIA issues	6	10.5

TABLE 2
Question: What are the most important issues facing the education
of American Indians in your state? Again, rank the issues from the
most important to the fifth most important.

	Number	%
Lack of funding	31	54.4
Curriculum issues	13	22.8
Parent/family involvement	11	19.3
Recruitment/retention/advisement/counseling	10	17.5
Lack of Indian administrators/educators	9	15.8
Financial Aid for college/university students	8	14.0
Drugs/substance abuse	7	12.3
Quality of instruction	7	12.3
Non-Indians' understanding of Indians/cooperation	6	10.5
Academic achievement	6	10.5
Drop-outs/leaving school	5	8.8
Teacher preparation/training	5	8.8
Apathy by the Indian community	5	8.8
More Indian graduates	5	8.8
Jurisdictional/self-determination/sovereignty	4	7.0
Lack of leadership	4	7.0
Student achievement	4	7.0

N = 57

Perceived Improvement of American Indian Education

TABLE 3
Question: Would you say that the education of American Indians,
from a national point of view, has improved, gotten worse,
or stayed the same during the past five years?

	Total %
Improved	35.1
Gotten Worse	33.3
Stayed the Same	28.1
Don't Know	3.5
N = 57	100.0

TABLE 4
Question: Would you say that the education of American Indians,
from a state point of view, has improved, gotten worse,
or stayed the same during the past five years?

	Total %
Improved	35.1
Gotten Worse	22.8
Stayed the Same	36.8
Don't Know	5.3
N = 55	100.0

Perceptions about Research in Indian Education

TABLE 5
Question: Is there a need to do more research in the
education of American Indian students?

	Total %
No	7.3
Yes	92.7
N = 55	100.0

Comments: Respondents were asked to suggest research topics and questions. Among the 48 suggested and the number of times they were mentioned: Drop-outs (8), relationship between cultural factors and academic achievement (7), learning styles (6), bilingual education (5), teaching styles (4), factors of successful students (4), testing (3), and career education (3).

TABLE 6
Question: Do you know of any meaningful research being conducted right now?

	Total %
No	78.2
Yes	21.8
N = 55	100.0

Comments: Only 12 comments were made when asked to identify meaningful research being conducted right now. Studies on successful Indian students, bilingual education, student retention, and an adult literacy assessment were specifically mentioned. Other comments were general in nature, some citing sources of research, i.e. ERIC and the Bilingual Clearinghouse.

Journal of American Indian Education

Volume 28 Number 1 October 1988

Volume 28 Number 1
October 1988