Integrating Traditional and Western Values

Abstract

When I was young, I valued my time at school. The school was a safe place for me: I learned to read, my teachers were friendly, and there was hot breakfast and lunch. I stayed at school for as long as I could because I dreaded going home. The school was a place where I learned about rules and to value what I was learning because I did get not these teachings at home. My father was an extreme alcoholic, and my mother was a workaholic. I rarely saw my mom, and sometimes I thought she lived at work. Now, I understand she would work more extended hours because she was the only one working. Back then, I hated parent-conferences and home visits. I was always embarrassed by my father and my home. But my teacher was very supportive while I was in her classroom in the third grade. I still remember her name, Mrs. Zimmerman. She always wore her glossy high heeled shoes and flared, beautiful dresses. She ran the classroom in an orderly fashion. I do not remember her class rules, but no one got paddled, and no one got sent to the principal’s office. I enjoyed her class. As the years went by, I learned to value my life and appreciated who I was going to become, an educator. For me, education, marriage, family, Diné language and culture were all important and I yearned to teach moral values to our next generation of students.