Californians, do you remember what you learned in fourth grade about the missions in California? Many of us were taught that the Indians and Spanish happily built missions together.

How much of what you learned is true?

A Sacramento Bee article, "Push to Teach Indians' Heritage In State" by Kevin Yamamura, stated problems educators currently have with the curriculum concerning Indian Culture. "In California, I think the perception is that Indians are living in teepees, riding horses and shooting bows and arrows," commented Bobby Barrent, the vice chairman of the Viejas Band of Kymeyaay Indians in San Diego. Most Californians get this perception in the fourth grade, when students get taught about California Missions. Senator Dede Alpert explained why the stereotype exists, "It is not that the teachers want to teach the wrong info, it's just that they don't have the material to teach the right info."

Seeing this urge to educate the next generation about the true experience of the Native Indians, it was time for the Cal Poly Honor students to step in.....

This Mission research Project conducted by the Honors Ethnic Studies 210 class at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, analyzed the current fourth grade curriculum regarding the California Missions. During the first phase of the project, students compiled a list of books and videos that are currently used by fourth grade teachers to deliver information of California missions. The second phase consisted of reviewing and analyzing the material to find the materials accuracy and missing parts. With the missing information in mind, students in phase three of the project, found alternative sources to educators could use as supplements to the mission curriculum.