A comparative study of Crow Indian students attending an Indian-controlled reservation school and a non-Indian-controlled off-reservation school

This study was designed as a comparative study of Crow Indian students in the Hardin High School and the Lodge Grass High School in regard to both academic and cocurricular activities.The purpose of this comparative study was to determine if either school was more successful in meeting the needs of Crow students since the schools have somewhat contrasting situations, Hardin High School being a non-Indian controlled school located off the reservation and serving a small minority of Crow students, and Lodge Grass High School being an Indian-controlled school located on the reservation and serving a large majority of Crow students.In order to gather data, the writer held interviews with school administrators, principals, teachers and other staff members of the two schools and reviewed numerous school records of Crow students enrolled in the 1977-78 school year at both of the schools.The findings of the study indicate: 1., Crow students were much more involved in non-athletic activities at the Lodge Grass High School than were Crow students at Hardin High School. 2.Male Crow students at both schools actively participated in athletic activities.However, only a minimal number of Crow girls participated in such activities at Hardin High School.3. The negative gap between Crow students' grade point averages and non-Indian students' averages was much wider at Lodge Grass High School than it was at Hardin High School.4. Both schools had approximately the same dropout rates of Crow students. 5.Hardin High School offered a number of courses related to Indian culture to reinforce Indian students' self-images while Lodge Grass High School offered none.' 6.Lodge Grass High School employed slightly more Indian staff members than did Hardin High School but neither employed a substantial number in respect to the number of Crow students enrolled.After reviewing the data of the findings, the writer made the following recommendations: 1.A comprehensive evaluation of Crow education must be made. 2.A study should be conducted to determine what, if any, affect the bicultural classes offered at Hardin High School have on Crow students.3. The two schools should contact other schools on or near Indian reservations which do employ a high number of Indian employees to determine the value of Indian employees as role models for Indian students.4. Crow students should be recruited and counseled to become more a part of the cocurricular aspects of the schools. 5.Both schools should conduct a study to determine causes of the high dropout rates among Crow students.Chapter 1