{"id":328,"date":"2020-09-14T12:37:42","date_gmt":"2020-09-14T17:37:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/w\/?p=328"},"modified":"2020-09-14T12:39:22","modified_gmt":"2020-09-14T17:39:22","slug":"indian-country-today-navajo-nation-schools-go-online-due-to-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/09\/14\/indian-country-today-navajo-nation-schools-go-online-due-to-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"Indian Country Today: Navajo Nation schools go online due to COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\"><iframe class=\"embed-responsive-item\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MP2sf_-288M\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=figure-caption>House Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States: \r\n<a href=https:\/\/youtu.be\/MP2sf_-288M>Examining the Bureau of Indian Education\u2019s School Reopening Guidance During the COVID-19 Pandemic &#8211; September 10, 2020<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<H1>Agency abruptly changes course on Navajo schooling<\/h1>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Monday, September 14, 2020<\/div>\r\n<div class=sub>Bureau of Indian Education leaders offered no explanation for the sudden decision to drop a demand for in-person classes and offer remote learning on the reservation<\/div>\r\n<div class=byline>By Mary Annette Pember<\/div>\r\n<div class=source>Indian Country Today<\/div>\r\n<div class=source-website><a href=https:\/\/indiancountrytoday.com\/>indiancountrytoday.com<\/a><\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nSchools operated by the Bureau of Indian Education on the Navajo Nation will be opening under a distance-learning plan this week, a stunning reversal of the agency\u2019s plans to hold classes in person.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe agency apparently changed course after a discussion between Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and BIE Director Tony Dearman. Neither the Navajo Nation nor the BIE have issued public statements about the new plan, and officials did not respond to emailed requests for confirmation or comment. \r\n<P><\/p>\r\n[<strong>Update from Indianz.Com: President Jonathan Nez of the Navajo Nation issued a <a href=https:\/\/twitter.com\/NNPrezNez\/status\/1305530999015575552>statement on September 14, confirming online classes<\/a> for Bureau of Indian Education schools on the reservation.<\/strong>]\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nTara Sweeney, assistant secretary of Indian affairs for the Interior Department, sent a letter last month to tribal leaders indicating the BIE-operated schools would open with in-person instruction.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAs <a href=https:\/\/indiancountrytoday.com\/news\/bureau-of-indian-education-open-schools-or-else-2sKhhXLz-EyhwJf-Sz-jmw>reported by Indian Country Today<\/a> in August, Sweeney wrote, \u201cTo the maximum extent possible, BIE schools will operate brick and mortar schools.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nIt remains unclear, however, if BIE-operated schools outside of the Navajo Nation will also offer remote learning.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAccording to one educator who spoke on condition of anonymity, teachers and administrators at remaining schools are still awaiting direction from the Bureau of Indian Education regarding in-person or remote instruction. BIE-operated schools are set to begin September 16.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" height=\"380\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"no\" allow=\"autoplay\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/playlists\/1128415960&#038;color=%23ff5500&#038;auto_play=false&#038;hide_related=true&#038;show_comments=false&#038;show_user=false&#038;show_reposts=false&#038;show_teaser=false\"><\/iframe>\r\n<div style=\"font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/indianz\" title=\"indianz\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">indianz<\/a>\r\n                         \u00b7 \r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/indianz\/sets\/examining-the-bureau-of-indian-educations-school-reopening-guidance-during-the-covid-19-pandemic\" title=\"Examining the Bureau of Indian Education\u2019s School Reopening Guidance During the COVID-19 Pandemic\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Examining the Bureau of Indian Education\u2019s School Reopening Guidance During the COVID-19 Pandemic<\/a>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <figcaption class=figure-caption>\r\n                        Indianz.Com Audio: \r\n                        <a href=https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/indianz\/sets\/examining-the-bureau-of-indian-educations-school-reopening-guidance-during-the-covid-19-pandemic>House Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States &#8211; Examining the Bureau of Indian Education\u2019s School Reopening Guidance During the COVID-19 Pandemic &#8211; September 10, 2020<\/a>\r\n                    <\/figcaption>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=h4-responsive>Fighting the plan<\/div>\r\nDaniel Tso, Navajo Nation council delegate and chair of the Health, Education and Human Services Committee, introduced emergency legislation on September 8 directed exclusively at BIE schools opposing in-person instruction.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAccording to emails shared with Indian Country Today, Tso sent the legislative document on Sept. 10 via email to legislative assistants for U.S. Reps. Ben Ray Lujan and Deb Haaland, both Democrats from New Mexico.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nShortly afterward, Alanna Purdy Montesinos, assistant for Lujan, sent an email to Tso in which she wrote, \u201cBIE staff notified me that Director Dearman spoke to President Nez today on this issue and BIE is working with the Navajo Nation in accordance to their Reopening Plan Return to Learn!\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nHaaland did not respond to an email seeking comment.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nMonica Garcia, Lujan\u2019s communications director, replied that the congressman\u2019s office \u201cwas not involved in setting up the meeting you mention.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Bureau of Indian Affairs agrees to start the school year using online instruction for the safety of students and teachers <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fDLzAfZDI1\">pic.twitter.com\/fDLzAfZDI1<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez (@NNPrezNez) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NNPrezNez\/status\/1305530999015575552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 14, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nParents with students attending the BIE-operated Tuba City Boarding School received a letter Sept. 10 from the Bureau of Indian Education indicating that \u201cinstructional resources (backpacks) will be delivered for each student via bus route. Teachers\/learning coaches will make phone contact with students to provide instructional direction regarding materials in the backpacks and information about the upcoming school year.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe letter goes on to explain that one computer device, iPad or laptop per household will be assigned, and students will need to share.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nSeveral Navajo educators who spoke on condition of anonymity since they were not authorized to speak publicly verified that the more than 30 BIE-operated schools on the Navajo reservation will now offer distance learning. Some voiced concern about the lack of computers and were clearly scrambling to find enough devices to go around.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAs the change in BIE policy was unfolding, the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States held a remote oversight hearing Sept. 10 entitled, \u201cExamining the Bureau of Indian Education\u2019s school reopening guidance during the Covid-19 pandemic.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nOfficials and tribal leaders lambasted the BIE for a plan that seemed to disregard tribes\u2019 wishes and sovereignty.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">BIE, through its School Reopening Task Force, gathered tribal consultation comments and stakeholder survey responses to inform the Plan. For a full list and breakdown of our 6 goals visit: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Z7ClbaQoZx\">https:\/\/t.co\/Z7ClbaQoZx<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/returntolearn?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#returntolearn<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/returntolearnbie?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#returntolearnbie<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/icEEbScuT5\">pic.twitter.com\/icEEbScuT5<\/a><\/p>&mdash; BureauIndianEdu (@BureauIndianEdu) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BureauIndianEdu\/status\/1300860565699670018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 1, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nDemocratic U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, chair of the subcommittee, opened the meeting by criticizing the BIE\u2019s failure to participate in the hearing.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cI would like to voice my disappointment in the BIE for choosing not to testify today. While this committee has often struggled with this administration\u2019s failure to provide timely and informed testimony, the BIE\u2019s refusal to be here today is a new low,\u201d Gallego said.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nHe described the agency\u2019s refusal to attend the meeting because it was held remotely as a dereliction of the federal trust responsibility with tribes.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nJoe Garcia, Ohkay Owingeh, co-chair of the education subcommittee of the National Congress of American Indians\u2019 Tribal\/Interior Budget Council, said the BIE has a long history of failing to communicate and work with tribal nations, parents and its own employees.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nGarcia cited the agency\u2019s refusal to honor the Navajo Nation\u2019s wishes to hold remote education as a prime example.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cIf the BIE won\u2019t respond to the Navajo, the biggest Indian nation in the country, how in the world can we expect them to talk to leaders of smaller tribes?\u201d Garcia said.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">ICYMI: Today I held a hearing with Tribal leaders and BIE teachers on how to start the school year safely in a pandemic. We cannot take chances with the health &amp; education of Native children.<br><br>Watch here\u2b07\ufe0f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/eKawo5wOjk\">https:\/\/t.co\/eKawo5wOjk<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Ruben Gallego (@RepRubenGallego) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepRubenGallego\/status\/1304205433519955968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 10, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=h4-responsive>A new plan<\/div>\r\nWith BIE-operated schools on the Navajo Nation poised to begin opening next week, both parents and educators are struggling to navigate the sudden change in plans, wondering if there will be enough computers to go around and adequate internet access on the remote reservation.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cI am all for distance learning but wondering how teachers can teach if my kids only have one computer,\u201d said V.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nV, Navajo, has six children who attend the BIE-controlled Tuba City Boarding School. She asked that she be identified only by her first initial.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cBut I\u2019m thankful for the decision to offer distance learning and for the food that the school will be distributing,\u201d V. said.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<HR><EM>Mary Annette Pember, a citizen of the Red Cliff Ojibwe tribe, is a national correspondent for Indian Country Today.<\/em><HR>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nNote: This story <a href=https:\/\/indiancountrytoday.com\/news\/agency-abruptly-changes-course-on-navajo-schooling-7XxjQCKPBE263XJ5-Xnmhw>originally appeared on Indian Country Today<\/a> on September 11, 2020.","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Education on the Navajo Nation will be opening under a distance-learning plan, a stunning reversal of the agency\u2019s plans to hold classes in person.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":310,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[18,19,20,1,14],"tags":[50,117,52,49,48,129,119,130,24,124,51,131,132],"class_list":["post-328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","category-health","category-indian-trust","category-national","category-politics","tag-116th","tag-bia","tag-bie","tag-hnrc","tag-house","tag-ict","tag-joe-garcia","tag-mary-annette-pember","tag-navajo","tag-ruben-gallego","tag-scip","tag-tara-sweeney","tag-tony-dearman","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-5i","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/bureauofindianeducation.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=328"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/310"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=328"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=328"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}