Education Among American Indians: Individual and Cultural Aspects

Abstract

The culture of the Indian child equips him well or poorly for edu cation in American schools, depending on how well his culture matches that of the American society which surrounds him. Motivation for school achievement, for instance, is poor by white standards among children of Indian tribes whose culture is based on co-operation rather than on competition. Innately, Indian children have about the same mental equipment as have white children, but their cultural status and experiences cause them to rank lower on educational achievement tests, especially in high-school subjects.—Ed.