Innovative Schools: Improving Navajo Cultural Values... STAR
What if your school was off the grid? Well, have you heard of STAR (Service To All Relations) School is located 25 miles east of Flagstaff, AZ., at the Southwest corner of the Navajo Nation. Arizona has the third-highest population of American Indians in the country as well as 22 federally recognized tribes. STAR is an innovative charter school and the first solar and wind-powered school in the country and is entirely off the grid. The STAR school was the result of one man's vision for a better school environment for Native American students.
From the horrible legacy of boarding schools and the continuous separation of young Native students and their communities innovative schools like STAR are rare. Statistically, Navajo students continue to struggle on standardized tests, graduation rates are low, and policies in traditional schools are barriers to student success.
Bought A Junkyard
Dr. Mark Sorenson, an educational leader, serving Navajo students for over 40 years, was tired of seeing Navajo students do struggle in traditional schools. Dr. Sorenson wanted to change the outcome for the Navajo students, the STAR school was the result. The land that was selected for the new school was a junkyard with no running water or electricity. Dr. Sorenson decided to create a school that fits the Navajo principles of sustainable living that are a part of the Navajo lifestyle. From a junkyard rose the STAR school with its own solar and wind power. They dug a well and have their own water, the school is off the grid and self-sustaining.
Build It And They Will Learn
The STAR school's teaching philosophy is based on values from the Navajo culture, which are Respect, Relationship, Responsibility, and Reasoning. Dr. Sorenson said of the Navajo cultural values that were incorporated in “how we teach, not what we teach.” After the STAR school began teaching the Navajo 4 Rs, the incidents of on-campus student conflict became non-existent. "For the past eight years, we never had a single fistfight on campus," remarked Dr. Sorenson.
Being A STEM School Helps Everyone
STEM, a teaching curriculum that focuses on four specific real-world disciplines, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in an applied approach. The STEM approach does not teach these disciplines separately but rather integrated into a cohesive learning technique that focuses on real-world applications.
The STAR School uses the Navajo 4 R values to evaluate real-world community problems. An example of how the 4 R principles and the STEM program guided the STAR School students to help their community. The STAR School students engineered "Bucket Coolers" as alternative air conditioning for the students' grandparents using 8-gallon buckets and aquarium pumps.
These bucket coolers were installed in the grandparents’ homes to help with cooling in the high desert heat. According to Dr. Sorenson, the success of the STAR School has lead to inquiries from as far away as the Maasai Tribe in Africa.
A Gift
The STAR School is a shining example of how place-based learning engages students in analytical problem-solving. The STAR School experience gives the students a sense of owning their education while placing high values on the culture of the school. A formula for success.
Sources
Staff Article. Navajo Education With Mark Sorenson. Spirituality & Health. March 01, 2017.
Barksdale, Savanna. #RethinkSchool: From A Junkyard To A STAR School; STAR School Uses Navajo Cultural Values With STEM Projects To Overcome Challenges.
HOMEROOM. August 9, 2018.
Ham, Elaine J. What is STEM Education? LIVESCIENCE February 11, 2014.
https://newsmaven.io/indiancountrytoday/archive/arizona-s-native-students-struggle-to-stay-in-school-tribal-leaders-move-to-help-3jaV6D3RJkSm3XfxQ1xAIg