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"At first it was Title 4, then 5, and now it's Title 9," said Marge Hebbring, the coordinator of this federal program for the Eau Claire Public Schools.
Designed to help Native American students succeed in school, the program serves just over 90 students in this urban K-12 district. Beginning each year with a grant request which lists the local program objectives, the funding comes in to the district and the program gets under way.
"Of course the federal government has to approve my plans and I have made tutoring the top priority. With the university here in our back yard, it's not too hard to get the 25 to 30 tutors we need to make the program fly each semester," said Hebbring.
She knows firsthand the value of having good role models and study mentors throughout a student's educational experience. A recent UW-Eau Claire graduate herself, Hebbring was encouraged by teachers, professors and family members.
"It's not easy to get that degree when you are a non-traditional student like I was. Lots of people kept at me, and this Title 9 job lets me help younger students stay in school and on track," she said.
Marge is an Ojibwe woman from the Lac Court Oreilles band. She is a direct descendent of Michael Cadotte, one of the first French traders in the northwestern Wisconsin area.
"We call ourselves The Pride of the Ojibwe, and it makes me very proud to have that heritage," said Hebbring.
It isn't only tutoring, however, that comprises the Title 9 program. When Billy Mills, the 1964 Olympic Gold Medalist, was passing through Eau Claire, Hebbring was able to schedule him for a visit with her Title 9 Indian students.
"He talked about how it is important for kids to have a dream and to hang on to it no matter what," she said.
Hebbring also has brought in other cultural activities including "talking circles" and discussions with spiritual elders. Her group makes an annual trip to the Veteran's Powwow at LCO every November 11.
"Many of the Title 9 students I have will some day become doctors, social workers and teachers. And many will share those skills with Indian people on reservations all across America." |
Recently, Hebbring organized an all-Indian Girl Scout Troop.
"We made dance outfits, and I taught them how to step and how to act properly at a powwow," she said. The group attended the UW-Eau Claire-sponsored powwow in late April. For some of the Title 9 students, it was their first powwow.
Hebbring mails a regular newsletter to the families of the Title 9 students. It keeps everyone informed of the programs and events that are scheduled. Recently, the Wisconsin Indian Education Association Conference was held at UW-Eau Claire, and it was one of the best meetings that group had ever had. Hebbring was the local coordinator.
One of the biggest events each year is the trip to the science museum in the Twin Cities.
"For some students, it's their first trip to a really big city," she said. "Of course, the museum itself is really an educator's dream," she added.
When she is not in her office on the phone, Hebbring is out in the schools visiting with students.
"There are 21 schools here in Eau Claire so being with my kids sure keeps me hopping," she said. "I just started a Lunch Bunch at some of the schools. I'll pick up a pizza and visit a school late in the afternoon. The Title 9 students come out of regular class and we'll chat and have a bite," she said. "It's a way I can get to know all of them, and that's important."
Hebbring recently discovered 25 more Indian students in the adjoining Altoona district and has added them to the program.
While this increases the federal funding, which is largely based on a per-student amount, the added number makes the job even more difficult. Since she began in the position in January of 1995, Hebbring is still only a half-time employee.
"It's not the best circumstance, being only half-time. But it's better than having no program at all for these kids," she said.
"Indian students used to have a 50% dropout rate. That's when the federal government decided to put some money behind an effort to change that statistic," said Hebbring. "That's really what is at the back of everything I do with my kids. If you know who you are, you can better choose where you want to go," she added.
And where she hopes these students go is into successful, productive lives.
"Many of the Title 9 students I have will some day become doctors, social workers and teachers. And many will share those skills with Indian people on reservations all across America," said Hebbring.
"Indian people often talk about making decisions today that reach into the future. Seven Generations, they call it. If my efforts here can help to do that, I will have honored my People's tradition and helped our country, too," she said.
All across Wisconsin, there are many federal programs designed to increase the learning opportunities for various students. Title 9 is one such program. In Eau Claire, as in many other Wisconsin school districts, this program is successful because of the efforts of talented, caring individuals like Marge Hebbring.
Public Schools work for Wisconsin because of such successful efforts. Let's keep on building on the best!
Posted June 5, 1997