H OW D ID A MERICAN I NDIAN B OARDING S CHOOLS A FFECT T HE N ATIVE A MERICANS ’ C ULTURE ?
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Transcript of H OW D ID A MERICAN I NDIAN B OARDING S CHOOLS A FFECT T HE N ATIVE A MERICANS ’ C ULTURE ?
AMERICAN INDIAN POPULATION AT THE END OF THE 19TH CENTURY
Population of 250,000 (not including the Indians of Alaska)
School population of 21,000 to be provided with school privileges
The Government had an overflowing Treasury
Problem: the Government wanted to convert the Natives into white American Christian citizens
MAIN QUOESTIONS
Is the white man’s way better for the Indian?
Who can have the competence of weighing and valuing the Indian ideals and spiritual concepts, or of substituting them with other values?
Is it wise to urge upon the Indians a foreign social form?
TRADITIONAL WAY OF EDUCATING INDIAN CHILDREN
Education for responsibilities by working with and imitating their elders
Grandparents’ important role
Respect for wisdom and council from the wise men
THE WHITE PERSPECTIVE
„Friends of the American Natives” – reform-minded Euro-American group
Assimilate Native Americans into Euro-American society
RICHARD H. PRATT
Veteran of Indian wars
„Kill the Indian in him, and save the man.”
1879 – Carlisle independent Indian school
CARLISLE BOARDING SCHOOL
Tribal dress or clothing not permitted
Indian names changed to „pronounceable” names
Native languages banned
Christianity encouraged
„Outing system”
THOMAS JEFFERSON MORGAN
National school system prepares Indian children “for American citizenship and assimilation into the national life”
Expanded the number of Indian boarding schools from 7 to 19
Controlled activities through a detailed set of rules
„FILL YOUNG INDIANS WITH THE SPIRIT OF LOYALTY TO THE STARS
AND STRIPES” Daily life similar to quasi-military lifestyle
English was the official language
„Christian” name in place of Indian name
Diet focused on meat and starches
Poor health conditions
Punishment was common - withdrawal of privileges or the assignment of extra work details
Navajo boy as he entered Carlisle Indian
school and after the
„reforming” process
Young boys in uniform at the Albuquerque Indian
School
PARENTS’ DILEMMA
Traditionalists opposed as they rightly understood the objectives were contradictory to traditional Indian life
However, because of the poverty and hopelessness children were sent to find a more prosperous life
LUTHER STANDING BEAR
Teacher, clerk, minister, interpreter, actor
One of the first Carlisle students
Land of The Spotted Eagle
LUTHER STANDING BEAR
Worked in Philadelphia, then returned to the reservation
Though white people had much to teach to Indians, Indians also had much to teach them
Tyranny, stupidity, and lack of vision brought about the situation that was referred to as the ‘Indian’ problem
CONCLUSION
Structure and political support for boarding schools eroded in early 1900s
The assimilationists had failed, Indian culture had survived
Possible solution: double education for the Indian youth