7th grade "historical simulation" program HONOR?
David T Rayson (rays0001@gold.tc.umn.edu)
Tue, 20 Sep 1994 07:27:55 -0500
This is a request for information. My 12-year-old daughter goes to
public school in Minneapolis and came home yesterday with an announcement
that she was going to participate in a "historical simulation" on Native
American culture. The problem is that it appears to be ahistorical
because the students are supposed to be "a member of the *Mai Acumwaa*,
an imaginary tribe living in the high desert of the Western United
States. For three weeks your child and all other students in the class
will have a unique experience. They all will go on a *STRAY*, which is a
time alone in the wilderness. There they will attempt to live
*honorably* as they face several challenges." Her first assignment is to
adopt a persona of this mythical tribe complete with a name chosen in
consultation with parents. The assignment reads in part "Native
Americans named their children after animals, events, or natural
phenomena. For example, a boy who shouted at the lightning one night
might have been named *Lightning Roar*. Or a girl who loved the feeling
of the wind in her hair might have been named *Wind in Hair*." As a
European American by culture and descent, I am deeply troubled by this
because I think it is taking deeply spiritual activity and making a game
out of it but I would like to know if anyone on the net has any
information about this program -- who wrote it, etc. Thanks.
David Rayson
rays0001@gold.tc.umn.edu