Adult Education Conversation Charts, 1960s

Summary

Creator:
United States. -- Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Abstract:
Oversize illustrated charts to teach simple conversational English and concepts.
Extent:
1 linear ft.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Adult Education Conversation Charts,

Background

Scope and content:

The Adult Education Conversation Charts consists of several dozen large illustrated charts designed by the Material Preparation Department of the Adult Education Program at its Field Technology Section in Brigham City, Utah. The charts were used to teach conversational English in a variety of practical areas, including job management, nutrition, family budget, and parent/teacher relations. The captions indicate that the charts were used with Choctaw, Navajo, and Papago students. They are undated, but likely from the 1960s.

Biographical / historical:

The Bureau of Indian Affairs, part of the United States Department of the Interior, has a long history of involvement in the education of Native Americans. Prior to 1928 the emphasis of such education was on assimilation, in many cases through boarding schools far from the students' tribal homelands; Native American language and traditions were suppressed in favor of Western European values and culture and the English language. The Meriam Report in 1928 altered this, recommending a shift to local schools and vocational training that would provide students with skills and education useful in both traditional communities (usually rural) and in American society in general. By the 1960s another shift had taken place, towards a more academic curriculum. As part of this, the Bureau devoted a considerable amount of effort to ensuring that students were fluent in English:

"Because so many of our students come from homes where English is not regularly spoken, we have to concern ourselves not merely with instruction in reading and writing but also with developing the ability to speak English fluently and understand it through the ear. Right now we are giving a great deal of attention to this problem and experimenting with a number of comparatively new techniques..." (from "The Education Mission of the Bureau of Indian Affairs" by Philleo Nash, published in the Journal of American Indian Education, Volume 3 Number 2, January 1964)

Acquisition information:
Unknown.

Access and use

Restrictions:

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Terms of access:

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Preferred citation:

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Adult Education Conversation Charts,

Location of this collection:
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries
Bird Library, Room 600
Syracuse, NY 13244, United States
Link to repository site
Contact:
315.443.2697
scrc@syr.edu