How American Public Schools Using Down-Linked News Media Shape American Indian Identity

Abstract

This article examines how some inaccurate news media perceptions commonly found in down-linked American news media may be reinforced in American public schools. After describing how American Indians are addressed in the educational news media that is down-linked to a large number of public school classrooms, this essay examines a number of issues related to the potential consequences of such programming on American Indian cultures, especially on the identity and self-esteem of American Indian children. These issues are examined from a more traditional American Indian perspective. American Indian identity public schools