Type your answers for the questions below into the
answer template (download
and open file "ansind.txt" with any word processor or text editor).
School Days of an Indian Girl and answer
the following questions:
- How did Zitkala-Sa's experience having her
hair cut change her? What feelings did she have? What does she
mean at the end of this section when she writes, "... now I was
only one of many little animals driven by a herder."?
- Think about the episode with the turnips. How
do you think the missionary (paleface) interpreted Zitkala-Sa's
behavior? Why? What parallels might be made to contemporary
interpretations of student behavior made by teachers unfamiliar
with their students' culture/s?
- Why do you think religion is often used to
frighten people into behaving certain ways? Is it effective? What
is it teaching Zitkala-Sa about the Christian religion?
- In the section entitled, Iron Routine, what
does Zikala-Sa mean by the 'civilizing machine'? Why would she use
the word 'machine'?
Methods of Learning:
- We cannot assume, of course, that all Native
Americans have the same methods of learning or, for that matter,
that every member of the Lakota Tribe learns the same way. But, we
can begin to build our knowledge and sensitivity about learning
styles by gathering information. From this brief piece on Lakota
Method of Learning, select 3-4 pieces of information and discuss
what implications this knowledge might have for you as you plan
and implement instruction.
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