What back to school really means

Page 4

As September and the start of the new school year approaches, many students are very excited to return to class and tell their stories of summer to all their friends.

It's the time of the year when stores like Wal-Mart and Staples cash in on the big back-to-school shopping spree. It could be just the start of yet another school year, except this time it's the end of the century.

Which leaves us with some questions.

Will there even be a class of 2000? What will happen when Y2K hits? What schools will be affected? Will your school shut down because of its old 1980 computers?

At Sage, we are Y2K compliant. I'm not afraid of Y2K, I'm just happy that all these teenage rebels are going back to school. I'm happy that I graduated from Grade 12, and I'm doing something positive with my life like running my own magazine, Generation X. I won't bore you any longer with my life story and the things that make me happy. Besides I wouldn't want you sleeping through the most exciting column in Sage.

So let's talk about the history of going back to school, from the time Native people first walked on this earth to the time gangsters started the new trend of drive by shootings in south central L.A. Here is what back to school was like from the birth of Wesuhkechahk (Indian legend) to the coming of Y2K. When Native people first started roaming the prairies there really was no school to go to, except for cooking class with Kohkom. There was no concept of school, but there were teachings from the Elders about traditional ways, and special courses on how to hunt buffalo and fry duck over the bonfire. Native people taught each other about the way of life, so going back to school was more like an everyday thing. When the missionaries came, they made the term "back-to-school" sound like a call for uncivilized Indians who needed to be taught the white man's way. That's one reason why many Native people (back then) were afraid to go back to school.

And I can understand why. I mean who would want to go back to school and face the hardships of being abused on a daily basis if you decided to implement a new Cree class? For Native people back then it was more like - Back to residential school savings at the Hudson Bay. Save 20 per cent on pencils (from trees chopped down on Native land).

Back to residential school was a scary thought for many Native people. It didn't mean returning to class and telling all your friends how big of a buffalo you hunted this summer, because at this time there were no buffalo. All the missionaries killed them off.

It was also a very sad time for Native people, so you can picture how terrible the residential schools were. When reserves first came into place, and Native people began to have their own governments with band councils, money was available to make new schools and hire teachers on reserves. This would change the school system dramatically. It was a new era that brought significant change to Native education. Back to school meant welcome to our new school, I hope you like the $2 million gymnasium. That really made students feel comfortable, going to their own school and being taught by their own teachers and learning their own culture.

Then again, we haven't even touched base on urban high schools.

What does it mean going back to school at a ghetto school? It means don't bring a gun to school, the police will easily detect it. And also don't carry a knife, there are kids more trained than you are. However, that's what the attitude is like in L.A. or New York. In a place like Saskatoon, back to school means having fun and meeting new friends and trying to fit in with the jocks, even though all you can do is play golf. So enjoy this school year and don't let the bullies bother you.

Until next time, this is Chris Ross signing off saying keep it real.