Final answer:
Education for Navajo children has transitioned from harsh assimilation policies in boarding schools to embracing and preserving their native language and culture through immersion schools and significant legislation. These changes have improved educational outcomes and cultural preservation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Positive Changes in Navajo Children's Education
The education of Navajo children has undergone significant positive changes over time. Previously, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Native American children, including those from the Navajo Nation, were placed in boarding schools that aimed to assimilate them into Euro-American society. This system stripped them of their language, culture, and traditional practices.
However, there have been efforts to restore and preserve Native American culture and languages. For instance, the establishment of immersion schools like the Navaho Immersion School in Arizona is a prime example. In these schools, children receive education in their native language for the first few years, followed by a bilingual approach as they grow older, fostering admiration for their culture while also ensuring competence in English. This change has not only helped in preserving the Navajo language, but research also indicates that these children do well or even better in later classroom performance and standardized testing.
Legislation such as the Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 also reflects significant progress. Moreover, the Indian Self-Determination and Educational Assistance Act of 1975 empowered tribes to have control over their educational programs. These positive changes have helped reverse the damages of past educational policies and contributed to the strengthening of Navajo children's cultural identity and educational opportunities.