Testimonials from Students and Teachers
Rod and Linda,
I have great respect for both of you and I am honored that you would come to our school. I enjoyed this experience and it made me realize a need that I have that I haven't been satisfying. it may be strange but this experience has inspired me to repair my relationship with my mom.
I want to thank both of you for coming into our classroom, your presentation met my need for fun, belonging, community, respect, awareness...the list goes on. It was a good change from my typical school day and a different highlight, not only of my day but of the week. I felt that I belong in and to this during Rod's talk about what's wrong with finding stuff out about yourself. I deeply enjoyed the drumming and singing. I loved bringing music into the school and i felt I learned more about myself in our period together than I do in an entire week of school. Thank you so much,
Thank you so much for taking the time to open our eyes to a totally different way of knowing and thinking. I loved the drumming and singing. More than that, I liked the fact that we all did it together and everyone got a chance to do one thing. You all taught us how to look within ourselves and not to worry what people think as long as you find yourself. The friendship dance was fun because it was a bonding moment as well as a cultural experience. I think it's amazing how involved people can be with each other, unlike our culture where everyone wants to stay away from each other. Thank you for opening my eyes with this experience.
By a Cleveland High School Student
Rod, Linda, and friends,
I really appreciate you all taking the time to visit our classroom, teach us, and allow us to experience a small fraction of your culture. When we teenagers talk about the cultures of the first people of the Americas in school, which rarely happens, it's always in a detached unspecific way. Few of us have actually met anyone from the tribes we speak of, much less experienced any of their rituals. Now, I have a "tangible" memory to use in reference for these discussions.
But your visit did more than just give me a point of reference when speaking about first peoples; it connected me to the class. During the friendship dance I forgot about my individual feelings. Instead, I was overcome by the joyous feeling of acceptance as i shook the hands of these people who, even though I've been in class with them for three months, i have never introduced myself. It filled a need for connecting I never knew I was lacking.
Thank you
By a Cleveland High School Student