A major step in reaching Native students is to accept that behavior resulting from fear of punishment does not and has not worked.  That is why other (alternative, different) consequences are needed with Native youth.

For instance, public condemnation, peer embarrassment, shame chairs, etc., can cause so much personal disgrace that many Native children will quit school rather than risk further humiliation.

Additionally, suspension rooms and harsh punishments do not work with Native American youth.  In most cases, they only serve to escalate misbehavior and anger responses, resulting in even higher levels of suspensions, expulsions and dropouts.

The tragic results are Native Nations needlessly losing many of their children's creativity and leadership potential.  Fortunately, there is a new way.