Connecting to the text Being in school for 16 years I definitely had positive and negative experiences in school. In 8th grade my last year in middle school I had some many negative experiences. Throughout the whole school year I was trying to keep my grades up staying up until 1 in the morning finishing homework was very stressful, and having a teacher that doesn’t teach. Positive school experiences I had was in fifth grade my class and I went on a 2 day filed trip in San Diego to learn about marine biology and I had so much fun learning about marine organism and marine mammals.
Questions on meaning
1. What overall impression does Alexei create of life on the reservation? Point to specific examples in the text that contribute to this impression.
The overall impression Alexie creates on life reservations is to established himself unique from other Indians in his class for example in line 1-3 he describes how he wore U.S. Government glasses, he also liked school playing basketball while other kids were getting high on playgrounds not just the students but also the teachers. In second grade his teacher Betty Towle asked him to say sorry for existing and being Indian.
2. Notice those places in the essay where Alexie describes how Native Americans face prejudice and negative stereotyping. What does this focus suggest about his PURPOSE?
Alexie describes how Native Americans face prejudice and negative stereotyping to show what was expected out of him in first grade they called him named like bloody nose, steal his lunch and cries like a white boy but he mocked the stereotypes of Native American.
3. The title “Indian Education” refers here to more than just formal schooling. What are some other implications of the title?
The title “Indian Education” doesn’t just refer to formal schooling but also know more about his family, he lives in the projects his dad is an alcoholic his mom is always wasting time. But also learns prejudice doesn’t just come from one race.
4. Alexie refers to his hair in the opening sentence of the essay and in the sections on second grade and twelfth grade. How, and of what, is his hair a symbol?
In the beginning Alexie refers how other boys have their long hair but his hair was too short to show he’s different from the other boys. In second grade his teacher sent him home with a letter to tell his parents to cut his braids or keep him home, but as he got older he was proud of his heritage.
Questions on Writing Strategy
1. In this essay Alexie offers thirteen scenes: one for each school grade and a postscript reunion. Why do you think he set these scenes up in separate sections and labeled them with headings, instead of, say, running the sections together and introducing each with a phrase like “During first grade” or “When I was in second grade”? What is the EFFECT of Alexie’s narrative technique?
Alexie uses thirteen scenes to show the growth of him. To show was he has become after all the things he has gone through and how he faced them. Alexie also uses thirteen scenes one from each school year because it’s like a diary.
Questions on language
1. In paragraph 15 Alexie writes that his teacher said of him” ‘Indians, Indians ,indians’…without capitalization.” What is his point?
Alexie writes that his teacher said of him” ‘Indians, Indians ,indians’…without capitalization she is saying it in a negative tone because she say it without capitalizing it and being indian is an insult to her but when he replied the term Indian is capitalized to show he’s taking pride the fact that he is Indian.