We are at a crisis level in education

Looking at these test results on the National Indian Education Study 2015 gives me a slight feeling of despair and a feeling of hope. For this reason, I do what I do. 

When the Office of Public Instruction has been claiming that 75 percent of the total students graduate in Montana, I wondered why the rest of the 25 percent fails. When I asked OPI to give me the schools that make up that 25 percent, all schools on or near reservations made up that 25 percent. This questionnaire validates and solidifies my belief thinking outside the box needs to happen. If it means going out on the limb alone, so be it, I’m doing what I think is best for the students I serve.

For me, we’re at a crisis level. If the public school system continues at the rate it’s going, I would hate to see what we look like in 10 years. If my charter school bill does not address what needs to be, the next session I will be back with something else. With or without anybody.

In closing, 20 years ago, I used to do drug and alcohol presentations nationwide as well as at the 12 school districts at the Navaho Nation. I warned everybody, “There is an epidemic coming. It’s called ‘methamphetamine,’ we need to prepare and be ready to deal with it.” I got laughed at. So now, I am pleading to everyone, “We are at a crisis level to deal with the 25 percent of our population that’s failing.” Our own Native kids/students.

I have Spoken,

Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, House District 32