Chapter 7: Teaching Aboriginal Issues in Social Studies
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This chapter focuses on aboriginal education within a Canadian context. I found this issue to be very interesting because I had never considered that Aboriginal studies is a newer topic in our curriculum. I grew up during the time when we learned about Aboriginals in school, so I had never considered that that was not an area of study only a few years prior. As a result of this being a newer subject, we as teachers need to critically look at how we are studying it and assess the curriculum. The article pointed out that original course textbooks did not help teachers teach the subject because they left out information on Aboriginal cultures. I find this very interesting because I am assuming that for awhile the people who decided how to administer education were probably confused as to whether or not they should even include Aboriginal studies as part of the curriculum as it casts Canada and its history toward the Aboriginals in a negative light. This reminds me of how Russia removed any reference that they had had a non-aggression pact with Germany at the start of the Second World War. After they saw that they should not ally themselves with Germany, they conveniently erased this information out of their textbooks by reprinting them and effectively altered history. I am glad that Aboriginal studies is included in the curriculum, and I believe that this chapter makes a very valid point when Maynes and Straub warn teachers to be careful not to “ overgeneralize that all Aboriginal issues are the same” (156). One part of the chapter I did not agree with was when the textbook said that teachers should teach appreciation for the Aboriginal culture. I believe that appreciation is not something that you can teach, but something that someone personally has to gain. Overall, however, this chapter was effective at showing teachers how to properly watch out for biases in text books and stressing the importance of teaching about Aboriginal culture in our curriculum.
Maynes, N., & Straub, J. (2012) Social Studies: Innovative Approaches for Teachers.1st ed. (156). Toronto: Pearson Canada.
Maynes, N., & Straub, J. (2012) Social Studies: Innovative Approaches for Teachers.1st ed. (156). Toronto: Pearson Canada.
Additional Resources:
1) http://www.linktolearning.com/grade6ss.htm
This website gives teachers ideas and information on how to teach Aboriginal studies in their classroom
2) http://www.aboriginalaffairs.gov.on.ca/english/youth/history/history.asp
This website, by the Government of Ontario, allows the opportunity for teachers to get a general background knowledge on the history of Aboriginals in Canada before they teach the subject to their class.
3) http://www.aboriginalaffairs.gov.on.ca/english/kids/kids.asp
This website, by the Government of Ontario, is garnered towards children and provides games and fun activities that will help children gain an understanding of Aboriginal culture.
This website gives teachers ideas and information on how to teach Aboriginal studies in their classroom
2) http://www.aboriginalaffairs.gov.on.ca/english/youth/history/history.asp
This website, by the Government of Ontario, allows the opportunity for teachers to get a general background knowledge on the history of Aboriginals in Canada before they teach the subject to their class.
3) http://www.aboriginalaffairs.gov.on.ca/english/kids/kids.asp
This website, by the Government of Ontario, is garnered towards children and provides games and fun activities that will help children gain an understanding of Aboriginal culture.