A case study of three pupils at Wandering Spirit Native Survival School in Toronto
type: CreativeWork
description: The purpose of this study was to describe how three pupils in the senior room of Wandering Spirit Survival School in Toronto responded behaviorally to the cultural and academic experiences provided. Participant observation was used to collect data for the study during the period of September 10 to November 15, 1981. Information concerning pupil behavior was gathered during: periods of total-class instruction and periods of individual instruction by the regular classroom teacher; individually-assigned task time; class sessions with visiting resource persons; free time; Ojibway and French language instruction; instruction at Winchester Public School; Sacred Circle feasts; and recess. Pupil seatwork was collected and studied. Additional information was obtained through interviews with the three Subjects and with the director.The study was conducted over a period of ten weeks and totalled ninety-seven hours fifty-one minutes of observation time. The Subjects were students in the senior room of Wandering Spirit Survival School, an alternative school for native children in Toronto, and their class consisted of thirteen pupils from grades five to eight. The procedures of this study yielded descriptive data of each Subject's behavior during the various types of activities observed. From the behavioral data, an account described each S's behavior over the ten-week study period, as it occurred in various situations and with various instructors/resource persons.' Frequency of behavior and changes in behavior were noted. The behavior of Ss was also discussed in light of the cultural and academic goals of the school. The data suggested that the school was partially meeting its cultural goals and was failing to meet its academic goals in the case of the three Ss studied.Wandering Spirit Survival School aimed at providing a safe, nonthreatening environment for its pupils. The atmosphere of the school and the cultural activities of the Sacred Circle, feasts, and Ojibway language in…
abstract: The purpose of this study was to describe how three pupils in the senior room of Wandering Spirit Survival School in Toronto responded behaviorally to the cultural and academic experiences provided. Participant observation was used to collect data for the study during the period of September 10 to November 15, 1981. Information concerning pupil behavior was gathered during: periods of total-class instruction and periods of individual instruction by the regular classroom teacher; individually-assigned task time; class sessions with visiting resource persons; free time; Ojibway and French language instruction; instruction at Winchester Public School; Sacred Circle feasts; and recess. Pupil seatwork was collected and studied. Additional information was obtained through interviews with the three Subjects and with the director.The study was conducted over a period of ten weeks and totalled ninety-seven hours fifty-one minutes of observation time. The Subjects were students in the senior room of Wandering Spirit Survival School, an alternative school for native children in Toronto, and their class consisted of thirteen pupils from grades five to eight. The procedures of this study yielded descriptive data of each Subject's behavior during the various types of activities observed. From the behavioral data, an account described each S's behavior over the ten-week study period, as it occurred in various situations and with various instructors/resource persons.' Frequency of behavior and changes in behavior were noted. The behavior of Ss was also discussed in light of the cultural and academic goals of the school. The data suggested that the school was partially meeting its cultural goals and was failing to meet its academic goals in the case of the three Ss studied.Wandering Spirit Survival School aimed at providing a safe, nonthreatening environment for its pupils. The atmosphere of the school and the cultural activities of the Sacred Circle, feasts, and Ojibway language in…
author: Pellerin, Judith A.
language: en_US
keywords: Wandering Spirit Survival School, alternative schools, native students, aboriginal education
date published: 1982
date modified: 2026-07-24T04:27:06Z
provider: University of Saskatchewan
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Saskatchewan

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: https://hdl.handle.net/10388/etd-03092007-160049