Rayanne Becker

September 30, 2019

Education 3501

Reflecting on FNMI Reading

The Education of Augie Merasty by Augie Merasty and David Carpenter was an

emotional read. For a small book it has a ginormous impact and the impact of this memoir will

have an influence on how I teach in the future. It will influence the way I teach students about

Canada’s history and the Indigenous people of Canada, it will affect how I teach students to be

respectful and appreciate diversity, and it will have a lasting impact on my identity as a future

teacher.

In my own experience in learning about residential schools I was always interested, but I

distanced myself from the realities of the Indigenous people’s experiences. When told about the

sexual and physical abuse, poor living conditions and separated families I never reflected on

what it would be like. I never put myself in their shoes and imagined being torn from my parents

and grandparents, or watching my siblings suffer abuse. Augie’s story and the class discussions

made me reflect on the effects of residential schools on a personal level. When I teach the history

of residential schools in Canada to my future students I will enact projects and activities that

prompt learners to relate and imagine the realities of these Indigenous experiences. For example,

I could ask students to write journal entries from the perspective as a residential school student to

engage them in personal reflection on what they have learned.

By engaging students in deep reflection in regards to residential schools I will assist them

in building empathy for others. Appreciating diversity should always be a priority; however, the

discussions regarding Augie’s memoir has made respecting diversity even more important to me.

I intend to be a positive influence to my students and teach them to treat everyone equally. I can
 Rayanne Becker
September 30, 2019
work towards this goal by creating a classroom atmosphere that feels safe and welcoming for

everyone and build a classroom community through team building activities with my students.

In addition to these approaches to teaching, The Education of Augie Merasty encourages

me to be the best teacher I can possibly be. The children who attended residential schools

suffered at the hands of educators and adults who preached kindness. I will always try to be

available to students who need me, kind to everyone inside and outside my classroom, and a

teacher who is easy to talk to. The examples of teachers from the memoir confirm how important

it is to be a good teacher because teachers can have an enormous influence on a child’s life. I

hope to always impact a child’s life in the best way.