Opinion
Jodi Rave: Writer's views on poverty draw heat


"Who is Ruby Payne? And why should anyone care? Payne wrote a book in demand by educators who are using it as a guide to teach poverty-ridden students about the �hidden rules� of the middle class. School administrators also pay her thousands of dollars to teach workshops, which promote her theory-based ideas. And while middle-class educators tend to embrace her teachings, a growing number of others are revolting against her teachings. Her work, they say, promotes stereotypes, lacks research and devalues students of color while ignoring pertinent issues, such as gender, culture and race.

The message isn't being lost on many communities of color.

�Indian people are like, �Aha, we've been saying this for years,' � said Ellen Swaney, director of American Indian/minority achievement for the Montana University System, who helped organize the 2006 Conference on Race. She invited Ahlquist to help broaden discussion of Payne's work.

Mike Jetty, a conference participant and former adjunct instructor at Montana State University, said he used to critique Payne's work. �She has this list: Could you survive in poverty? Could you survive in wealth? Could you survive in middle class? Some of those things, as I looked at them, I thought these could really perpetuate stereotypes of people in poverty.

�Ruby's position re-instills a Christian paradigm of charity and sin and so on,� said Kate Shanley, the University of Montana's Native American Studies Department director. �It's very Christian in shape, and it reinstates the hierarchal notion as opposed to allowing people to come as full partners in conversation.

�It isn't openly hostile and racist, but it is racist in its condescension.�"

Get the Story:
Writer panned by educators for stereotypes, treatment of students of color (The Missoulian 12/1)

Relevant Links:
Jodi Rave - http://www.missoulian.com/jodirave

Related Stories:
Jodi Rave: Native students not always a priority (11/27)
Jodi Rave: Native veterans are the unsung heroes (11/13)
Jodi Rave: Election Day for Indian Country (11/9)
Jodi Rave: Northern Cheyenne teen survives cancer (11/6)
Jodi Rave: Native candidates seek more Native votes (11/2)
Jodi Rave: Series on violence against Native women (10/30)
Jodi Rave: An environmental role for Natives (10/26)
Jodi Rave: Burns and Tester seek Indian vote (10/23)
Jodi Rave: Rehberg and Lindeen tout tribal issues (10/23)
Jodi Rave: UN to honor Chief Arvol Looking Horse (10/18)
Jodi Rave: Tribes bless site of Native center at UM (10/16)
Jodi Rave: Tribes to bless Native center at UM (10/11)
Jodi Rave: Play brings treaty to life for students (10/10)
Jodi Rave: Tribe rallies against drugs and abuse (10/9)
Jodi Rave: Open college doors to Native students (10/4)
Jodi Rave: Series on violence against Native women (10/2)
Jodi Rave: Series on violence against Native women (9/26)
Jodi Rave: Series on violence against Native women (9/25)
Jodi Rave: Series on violence against Native women (9/22)
Jodi Rave: Series on violence against Native women (9/18)
Jodi Rave: More Native students enter college (9/11)
Jodi Rave: Campaign seeks Native marrow donors (9/6)
Jodi Rave: Sharing tribal histories of Sacagawea (9/5)
Jodi Rave: Native athletic events an inspiration (8/28)
Jodi Rave: Cultural revival on the reservation (8/21)
Jodi Rave: Accurate media coverage of Natives (8/10)
Jodi Rave: From the Chickasaw Nation to Broadway (8/7)
Jodi Rave: Indigenous summit at base of Bear Butte (8/1)
Jodi Rave: Fire Thunder steps into ring of fire (7/31)
Jodi Rave: Dangerous policy on Native ancestors (7/28)
Jodi Rave: Cobell worried about settlement legislation (7/24)
Jodi Rave: Documentary explores Indian land (7/24)
Jodi Rave: Gathering celebrates Native women warriors (7/17)
Jodi Rave: HUD releases block grants for tribes (7/10)
Jodi Rave: Montana Natives win at Indigenous Games (7/7)
Jodi Rave: Indigenous Games kick off in Colorado (7/4)
Jodi Rave: Indigenous Games propel indigenous rights (7/3)
Jodi Rave: Tribal housing hurt by HUD decision (6/29)
Jodi Rave: Passing on the stories of the people (6/26)
Jodi Rave: Ulali carries on singing tradition (6/20)
Jodi Rave: Churchill fabricated history of my people (6/19)
Jodi Rave: Native family gets help with first home (6/12)
Jodi Rave: Express tribal identity at graduation (5/30)
Jodi Rave: Trendsetters at UM Indian journalism (5/22)
Jodi Rave: Immigrant marchers belong to Native America (05/08)
Jodi Rave: Tribes alarmed at trust reform initiative (04/03)
Jodi Rave: Racial tensions in border communities (04/03)
Jodi Rave: Program to help Natives in legal system (02/14)
Jodi Rave: Tribal employee admits to fraud in Iraq (2/13)
Jodi Rave: Tribal political donations debated (2/9)
Jodi Rave: Native people object to school mascots (2/6)
Jodi Rave: Garcia calls for settlement of Cobell (2/3)
Jodi Rave: Native conservation a focus of conference (2/2)
Jodi Rave: Chippewa Cree artist honored for work (1/27)
Jodi Rave: HUD loans a success in Indian Country (1/23)
Jodi Rave: Burns to celebrate birthday with lobbyists (1/19)
Jodi Rave: Sen. Burns ignored Cobell, tribal issues (1/17)
Jodi Rave: King speech still matters to Indians (1/16)
Jodi Rave: Black Indians struggle for acceptance (12/05)
Jodi Rave: Deloria represented human adventure (11/17)
Jodi Rave: Applause for Gov. Schweitzer at NCAI (11/07)
Jodi Rave: Natives pay for health care with lives (10/24)
Jodi Rave: Group to propose Tribal Justice Act (10/10)
Jodi Rave: Blackfeet citizens invest in their future (10/03)
Jodi Rave: Media needs more Native journalists (9/23)
Jodi Rave: Indian Country guide an essential tool (09/13)
Jodi Rave: Free press in Indian Country a big issue (08/15)
Jodi Rave: The best fry bread in Indian Country? (7/29)
Jodi Rave: Tragedy on the Red Lake Reservation (07/11)
Jodi Rave: Blackfeet opera lacks authenticity (07/11)
Jodi Rave: Reporting on reservations is improving (06/02)
Jodi Rave: Hope remains after mother's passing (05/11)
Jodi Rave: Fewer and fewer Indians in newsrooms (04/25)
Jodi Rave: 'No Media' sign at Red Lake not for me (04/14)
Jodi Rave: Indians don't pay taxes and other myths (03/11)
Jodi Rave: Deloria unknown because he's Indian (01/24)
Jodi Rave: Native participation needed in politics (01/10)
Jodi Rave: What was 'Kokopelli' professor thinking? (12/15)
Jodi Rave Lee: It feels good to be a grandmother (11/23)
Jodi Rave: Native veterans denied home loans (11/11)
Jodi Rave: Indian issues need more than a month (11/9)
Jodi Rave Lee: Protecting rights of Native voters (11/04)
Jodi Rave Lee: Trail tells story of Nez Perce (10/12)
Jodi Rave: Mixed emotions surround NMAI opening (09/27)
Jodi Rave Lee: Native image on coin inspires pride (09/14)
Jodi Rave Lee: Indians, Iraqis have much in common (08/30)
Jodi Rave Lee: Gag order sign of poor leadership (08/09)
Jodi Rave Lee: Native presence can't be denied (08/02)
Jodi Rave Lee: Warrior spirit gives Natives hope (07/06)