Native American caucus hears ‘messenger of hope’
Howard T. Rainer calls himself a “messenger of hope” for struggling Native American students. And he believes school board members can be messengers as well.
“So many of our young people are losing hope. They are losing confidence in life,” said Rainer, an author, photographer, and Native American program administrator at Brigham Young University. “They are struggling at home, struggling at school. … Many people believe there is no hope after high school.”
But Rainer, who spoke Saturday at the National Caucus of American Indian/Alaska Native School Board Members general session and luncheon, says hope does exist. And, in a session that had the feel of a pep rally or an old-fashioned tent revival, he repeatedly challenged board members from 15 states to spread his message.
“It’s time for change,” Rainer said with the cadence of the poet that he is. “Your kids are failing in school? It’s time for change. Your kids are being ignored? It’s time for change. Your kids are not graduating? It’s time for change.”
Rainer said board members have the “power of vision.” He then told a story of a school meeting he spoke at that had seating for 500 people. Only three parents initially showed up, but he decided to go on with his speech anyway.
“A native elder came in and asked me, ‘What is your vision of a quality education?’ I said it was native traditions, native instruction, native values, native philosophy, native spirituality. And then you add non-native computers, non-native reading, and non-native math, and that equals power.”
The native elder told the three parents to go out and get others to hear Rainer talk. Within hours, the room was filled to capacity.
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