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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 1970)
Indian teacher stresses freedom 5"dai by CAROL GOETSCHIUS Nebraskan Staff Writer "I've played my own game all my life, that's my right and freedom," said Webster Rob bins, a new faculty member and a Cherokee Indian. Robbins' game is education. He is working on his Ph.D. in that field and teaches an Education 31 class. Robbins would like to set up a specialized elementary education program for teaching Indian students. "With a dropout rate of 50 per cent for Indian school children," he said, "there is a need for more Indian teachers and teachers who understand Indian values." Wrapped in hundreds of years of separate tradition, In dians have a different way of viewing things than most peo ple, Robbins said. This cultural difference stems from the In dian's closeness to nature, he explained. Inbred in his people is an awareness of the cycle of nature, of man's kinship to animals since all eventually return to the soil, he con tinued. With a nod towards the win dow, Robbins said that what's out there, nature and creation, are awe-inspirinig to the Indian. Man-made monuments, "you can have them," he saiid. Robbins emtphasized the im portance of freedom to Indians. Indian life is one of self determination, of "total in dividual freedom," he said. Children are allowed freedom of choice, he continued, and parents will not force dropouts back to school. To reach Indian children, teachers must un derstand this freedom. Indian life, Robbins said, is not structured like the average American's life. Indian time, he said, is "no concept of time." "To be effective, a teacher must work with these Indian traits, not change them," Rob bins said. "We accept the values of the dominant society, but try to retain our own, picking the best of both." For the last two years Rob bins taught in the Niobrara school system, which includes the Santee Sioux reserva tion. Originally from Oklahoma, Robbins went to Niobrara as a member of the National Teachers Corps (NTC). NTC is a government organizatpon providing teachers for disad vantaged areas. A graduate of Northeastern State in Oklahoma with a masters degree from UNO, 33-year-old Robbins said he came to NU because he believes there is a need for more people in the educalponal pro fession. - Although he hasn't formed an opinion of the University yet, Robbins said he' likes Lincoln and plans to stay indefinite ly. Chambers to talk at A ACS dinner Candidate for the Unicameral and well-known black activist, Ernesit Chambers, will be the guest speaker at a fund raising dinner Monday in the Nebraska Union. Chambers will be speaking at a $5 a plate dinner and dance sponsored by the University Afro-American Collegiate Society (AACS). Monday. Soot. 21 American- Sculpture Exhibition Sheldon Gallery.. Student Prlnfr Show Union Gallery. -Madagascar! Art Exhibit Elder Gallery, Wesleyan University. Final day 'add" accepted. Tuesday, Sept. 22 Sculpture Forum: Lecture by William Gerdts, "Marble Resurection" 8 p.m. Sheldon Auditorium. NET Festival, "Beethoven: The Em peror" 8 p.m. Channel 12, Nebraska ETV Network. American Sculpture Exhibition Sheldon Gallery. Student Print Show Union Gallery. Madagascan Art Exhibit Elder Gallery, Wesleyan University. Soccer Club meets Tuesday The University Soccer Club will meet at 8 p.m., Sept. 22, in the Nebraska Union. Anyone with an interest in soccer is invited to attend. The club plays teams from local colleges and Big Eight universities as well as in ' tramural matches. Webster Robbins litfPORTSIIOl 10231 -432-60 10 227 No. I ri pe HerV ttVndkU! -LI 1 yc 2 m Lowesr prices A V Clothes 41 misc. In 4he AUtC C900000O0 30000O00O0000003O000000C o o o o o o o o o o o c o o o o o o o o o o o o o o Q Join the Nebraska Union Film Society Foreign The Two of Us Stolen Kisses Teorenia Rules of the Game Daisies Shame Dande a Parte Forhithlen Gaines Battle of Algiers The Music Koom La Strada My Night at Maud' Fifth Horseman is Fear The Eclipse The Exterminating Angel Tickets on sale in Nebraska Union Sept. 21-Oct 2 9-3 Residence Halls 11:30-12:30 and 5-6 Sept. 21-Oct. 2 Studenjr, Faculty, Staff $8.24 Non-University Student $9.27 Patron . $11.33 Shown Wednesday Evenings 7 & 9 P.M. Nebraska Theatre 1144 P St. o o o o o o O o o O O O o o o Q o o o o o o o o o o 0 o 0 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1970 ?0OOOOOfOOQOOOOOOOOOOOGOOOOOO(Od THE NEBRASKAN PAGE 7