| dc.description.abstract | This study compares federal, provincial and First Nations schools’ delivery of specific
educational services to Native students in Northwestern Ontario. Areas of comparison include
those which the Indian Education Paper Phase One (INAC, 1982) regarded as "determinants
of program quality" (p. 20): (a) curriculum and standards, (b) staffing, (c) staff support and
supervision, and (d) student support services.
Data was acquired through the use of a survey questionnaire, structured interviews, and
document analysis. The primary research instrument, the survey questionnaire, was
distributed to 37 public and separate boards of education, 28 First Nations schools, and 7
federal schools. In addition to the questionnaire structured interviews were conducted with
the Assistant District Superintendent of Education for an Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
administrative district, as well as with a Superintendent of Education for an urban separate
school board in the region. Furthermore, a number of documents provided by federal,
provincial and First Nations agencies concerned with education in general, and Native
education in particular, were analyzed.
The results of the study indicate that all three educational systems have programs in place
to provide the above educational services to the Native students enrolled in their schools.
There are, however, significant differences among the systems in the manner in which these
services are implemented. Differences were found in the provision of a Native cultural
component in the curriculum, the professional qualifications required of teaching staff, the
employment benefit packages provided to educational employees, the nature of supervisory
relations, and the provision of student support services. | |
