The New York Times on Off-Reservation Schools

CrowNews.Net

As summer nears, a New York Times piece looks at two area high schools and how "the intertwined arcs of Hardin and Lodge Grass have made for a bittersweet experience."

In a Sunday story, reporter Kirk Johnson writes that Hardin's student body has grown in recent years because of a decision handed down by the Hardin School District in 2004 not to bus students from Hardin to Lodge Grass as well as Crow students' and parents' preference for the off-reservation school. Meanwhile, Lodge Grass High School has lost more than a third of its student enrollment in the last eight years.

The shift in numbers between the two schools, Johnson notes, has mostly benefited Hardin High while Lodge Grass faces continued budget cuts and a dwindling staff.

Click here for the full story.

Comments

[Blacksmith]

Never liked being interviewed --
What one says always seems to turn out to be different when another writes it.
I'd say many others probably feel the same.

[LGHS Graduate]

Why is John and Francine Small still working for Lodge Grass High School? They should just move to Hardin and look for jobs there then! We need a principal like Jason Cummins!

[LG grad]

I don't think that LG ever really pushed the kids to reach their potential as other schools do or did. In the 3 peat state tournament run, I'll bet that there were only 4 players that actually earned the right to play ball, (academically) some of the "stars" were absent all the time, and just didn't make the grades. But they still got to play, It sure made somebody look good, but at who's cost? If you go to Hardin on the skid row, how many "star" basketball players do you see there? The schools and parents are failing these kids terribly. With the exception of Tuff Harris, who graduated from Colstrip,how many division I players has LG ever produced? The talent is there but the discipline isn't. Sure we can point fingers at the teachers, the teachers can point fingers at the parents, parents at the board. Who knows? Also how many "indian schools" have reached the AYP standard of No Child Left Behind? I could be wrong, but my guess is zero.. So somebody is doing something wrong. And the children are paying for it. Also it makes a lot of sense when the indian school board members have like 6th grade educations. Ha Ha.
Aho

[Cummins]

That's not a fair comment, Mr. and Mrs. Small have played a very important role in my life, as well as countless others in our area. They have been a positive influence as role models and mentors in LG.

They understand the challenges the school faces, truly care for the kids, and won't cave into manipulation or politics. Over the years they have demonstrated their care for our kids by doing what is best for them, and have consistently demonstrated character and integrity.

If the school is going to improve the improvement needs to come from the community. More parents need to wake their children up for school (on time), teach their children to respect teachers, and make sure their homework is done. The school board needs to actually think about what is best for the kids and do what is right, and often times doing what is right is not easy.

Many times a principal will do what is best for the kids and the school, only to have the rug pulled out from under them by a few school board members who cave into pressure. Just ask me, I know.

Keep up the good work Mr. and Mrs. Small! And thanks for all the things you do for your students.

[Mr. Anonymous]

Why is it all about athletics when it comes to LG? The 3-peat, Tuff Harris, Elvis, etc....I think we as people (APSAALOKE) need to put down those differences, them invisible reservation lines, those invisible district lines and reiterate what is important to us. Our own rivarlies, diversities, and differences are whats killing us from the inside out these days. Our kiddies. We always emphasize EDUCATION during the campaign, the rally, the lil get together but when it comes right down to it, who really does anything about it? We start to point to the school board and educators about where the kids go wrong but we should take a good look in the mirror and ask ourselves.....what am I doing wrong? Where am I failing as a parent/teacher/mentor to my kids. You cant be lazy about parenting and point fingers. We cant treat the school as if it was a daycare although it kind of sort of is BUT we as parents, the tribe as a whole needs to take an initiative to address the whole education issue not only in LG but others as well like PRYOR, WYOLA. What cha think???

[Champion]

To LGHS Graduate:
It's easy to critize what you don't know or don't understand. In the Late 80's and early 90's LGHS did have not only a good curriculum but exellent teachers and principals. After I left, It just seems that the school board made piss poor decisions about how they should run the school. The board plays their own politics hiring their own families and friends. I ain't saying that its not right to hire family and friends but lets stick to educated individual that earned a right to call themselves "Teachers"....

We as athletes did study and work hard in school to stay on the team. Going on those basketball trip was our only escape from the troubles and conditions of the reservation. Not all of us had a luxury home or life to go to after school or after practices. Alot of Native Athletes helped paved the road in this day and age. 20 years ago the word "Indian Athlete" was like chicken poxes if you've never had it or never came in touch with it you just don't wanna be around it. But those trials and errors from other Native athletes from the past that tried after High School helped people like Tuff Harris and Dever Tolbert get to where there are. Now! not that I went on to be a star athlete in College but I'm proud to say that I'm a College graduate with a Bachelors degree and have good job. Not all of us have parents that don't care. So you might wanna understand what you are talking about before you make comments on any public media.
Itchik! Aho!

[ZenPanda]

Jason Cummins would be a great principal. I worked with him in Pryor, he is one who stands out most in my mind as a truly caring teacher that challenged his students.