Question

In "An Indian Father's Plea," Medicine Grizzlybear Lake makes an argument against his son's teacher's claim that Wind Wolf is "'a slow learner'". Determine what his argument is and then explain how he fails to build a strong argument. Be sure to describe at least three examples from the text that do not strongly support his argument. Use specific details from the text within your essay. (30 points)

Answer 1

Answer:

What does culture have to do with learning? Some might say nothing at all but in "An Indian Father's Plea" by Robert Lake (Medicine Grizzlybear) an argument is made that just the opposite is true. Wind-Wolfs father argues that his teacher does not know his son and that his son is not a slow learner at all. His father's argument is weak because it lacks evidence to prove that Wind-Wolf is learning at the same speed as other children his age, which is the teacher's argument.

Wind-Wolf's learning has taken place culturally and although he is obviously educated because of this, it does not support his father's argument that he is not a slow learner. Wind-Wolf's father states that Wind-Wolf knows "Shapes, sizes,colors, texture, sound, smell, feeling, taste, and the learning process are therefore functionally integrated-the physical and spiritual, matter and energy, conscious and unconscious, individual and social." aspects of learning but he does not mention the speed at which Wind-Wolf can learn the subjects the teacher is teaching. He also uses examples of  the "Sacred Sun Dance" which again doesn't prove that Wind-Wolf is progressing as he should in class. He mentions that Wind-Wolf has learned differently but doesn't give any clear evidence to support his argument. "And he was taught to learn mathematics by counting the sticks we use in our traditional native hand game." These culturally rich activities have educated Wind-Wolf in way that the Western world has not been educated but which makes him even more educated than other children but does not give evidence that he is on track in school unfortunately.

Although I myself do not agree that Medicine Grizzlybear hasn't supported his argument thoroughly there is evidence that his claim wasn't well supported. It is clear that Wind-Wolf and Medicine Grizzlybear are both well educated in fact in some areas they are more educated than most students especially culturally.

Explanation: