Bilingual Education at Dzil Na'oodilii Community School.

Overview & Synopsis

Proceedings of a Navajo Bilingual Education Conference held April 26 and 27, 1985, are summarized in this report which focuses on the implementation of Navajo language and cultural education at the Dzlith Na O Dith Hle Community School (DCS). The paper begins by stating that the conference was intended to assist educators in understanding and preparing a plan to comply with new educational policies established by the Navajo Tribal Council on November 14, 1984, mandating excellence in education for all Navajos and specifying instruction in Navajo language and culture. A section on educational policies summarizes the positions of the Navajo Tribe, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the State of New Mexico, Eastern Navajo Agency, and DCS. Recommendations for DCS include formation of a committee of teachers, administrators, school board members, and parents who will investigate options for implementing a bilingual education program. The report lays out options and costs for implementing Navajo language instruction and cultural education with and without the services of an outside curriculum consultant. The final section, titled "A Global Perspective of Bilingual Education," summarizes experiences of other peoples who speak a different language at home than at school and points out benefits of bilingualism. (JHZ)