Jan 06, 2009 - 06:59:41 CST
The boys' father prompted them to talk about the clothes they wore.The boys were dressed like their peers underneath the fringes, beads and bells of the dance regalia.
"I'm Elijah, as you know," the sixth-grader said in an assembly at Great Plains Sixth Grade Academy in Mandan. A brief pause, and he started talking about the headband he wore.
"The medallion is pretty big," he said. "That is because the government would not allow dancing. You wore it so they could not see your face and the beads disguise yourself. Right?"
He looked to his dad, Wayne Fox, for reassurance. He waited for him to continue. Elijah handed the task to his twin brother, Daryl, who described the significance of a beaded item of clothing.
Fox told the audience he put the boys on the spot. He taught his sons to dance, now he wants them to be able to tell others why.
"We all have traditions to pass down to daughters and sons," Fox said. "A lot of responsibility comes with it."
The purpose of the traditions are to instill a sense of who you are, Fox said. It can be a source of pride. The Mandan School District started a program with its sixth grade academy and middle school to teach students about pride.
The assembly by Fox and his sons was to help kick start the program. The Fox twins demonstrated the grass dance and Fox demonstrated the hoop dance Monday. The district wants students to focus on three forms of pride: self, others and school. The twins are students at the academy.
"We do 'Caught in the Act' ... this is an extension of that," said Ryan Leingang, principal of Great Plains Sixth Grade Academy. Caught in the Act is a program where students are recognized when they are seen doing something nice for someone without being prompted.
Leingang encouraged the students to think about the words they use with each other, and focus on the way they treat others and the school.
Fox chose to perform the hoop dance because of the symbolic nature of the hoop. In the dance, he uses several hoops to create different images in nature.
"The hoop dance has many stories," Fox said. "As an educator and principal, I use this dance to talk about respect and having pride in self."
Fox is principal at Cannon Ball School. The school once had a competitive hoop dance team under Fox's direction.
The three forms of pride Mandan wants to foster are like three hoops, he said. They can connect to one another and it all starts with the individual.
(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@;bismarcktribune.com.)
gpa mom wrote on Jan 6, 2009 2:22 PM:
Just curious wrote on Jan 6, 2009 2:00 PM:
Online Editor wrote on Jan 6, 2009 12:30 PM:
mandanite wrote on Jan 6, 2009 11:36 AM:
Internet Bully wrote on Jan 6, 2009 11:32 AM:
Rita wrote on Jan 6, 2009 11:10 AM:
my sixties, I can honestly say, "I know very little about other cultures and the pride in them" For example. Germans, I don't know if they have celebrations. Or
Asians. What is their Holidays? This is a excellent learning tool for all. How many of us can say with pride, " I can speak german or spanish, or native fluently."
I take this time to send Mr. Fox & Family. Salute! We sure could use more dads like
yourself. Once a person learns anything new. "it;s yours' to keep". "
Great Plains Sixth Grade Academy Mother wrote on Jan 6, 2009 7:06 AM:
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