Indian boarding schools have many
pros and cons. The cons include stripping Indians of their culture, crowded
conditions, inadequate medical care, forcing the white culture on the children,
and illness. The pros include the friendships made, the running water, the
Biblical truths taught, and the fun the children had.
Starting in the late 1800s, people
started to try to “civilize” Indians. Private boarding schools, reservation
boarding schools, and mission schools were established. The purpose of these
schools was to strip Indians of their culture and to help them adapt to the Anglo-American
lifestyle. One of the first of these schools was the Carlisle Indian School in
Pennsylvania, which was founded in 1879 by Captain Richard Henry Pratt (Marr).
According to Mintz, Pratt’s motto was “kill the Indian and save the man.” One
of the first mission schools was at Priest’s Point. It was founded by Reverend
E. C. Chirouse in 1857 (Marr).
Spokane Schoolgirls, Fort Spokane (Marr)
In these schools, the Indian children were completely robbed of their native culture. They were forced to practice the white culture. “Pratt trimmed their hair, required them to speak English, and prohibited any displays of tribal traditions, such as Indian clothing, dancing, or religious ceremonies” (Mintz).
Tulalip Indian School , ca. 1912 (Marr)
I think the people who founded these schools had very good
intentions. However, I do not think that the Indians should have been completely
stripped of their own culture. This made them very depressed and unhappy. This
unhappiness is shown in the story Life
Among the Piutes: Their Wrongs and Claims by Sarah Winnemucca. “Many years
ago, when my people were happier than they are now, they used to celebrate the
Festival of Flowers in the spring” (Winnemucca). Another example is shown in
the statement, “My people have been so unhappy for a long time they wish now to
disincrease instead of multiply”
(Winnemucca). Although the author may or may not be referring to the
unhappiness caused by the schools, it is very likely that these schools are one
of the reasons her people were so unhappy.
Obviously, the mission schools added an additional purpose:
to convert the Indian children to Christianity. If these schools made the
children so unhappy, why would they want anything to do with Christianity? I
think it is a good thing that the children were taught good Christian morals
and Biblical truth, but forcing it upon them is not the way to lead them to
Christ. This will only result in the children despising the Christian faith. If
these Christians truly wanted to lead these precious souls to the Lord, they
would show them the love of Christ. They would be kind to them and let them
keep their culture.
In addition to stripping the Indian culture, these boarding
schools had other problems. They were very cramped, crowded schools with
inadequate medical care. Many children died as a result. However, there were
also some positive things to be said about the schools. The children did have
fun and make close friendships there. The pros and cons to these schools can be
summed up by Arnold McKay who was interviewed by Carolyn Marr. “On the reservations there was no
electricity or running water. When kids came to the boarding school they had
these things--showers and clean clothes--and they ate decent food. My mom died
when I was 13 months old. I stayed with my grandmother who wasn't well...My
main criticism of the boarding school is that it didn't allow you to do your
own thinking. You marched everywhere, you were governed by the bell and bugle,
you were told when to go to bed and when to get up, your whole life was
governed. As a result, you didn't learn how to become an independent thinker.”
As one can see, the Indian boarding schools had some
positive and negative aspects. However, I think the bad outweighs the good
regarding these schools.
Works Cited
Marr, Carolyn. "Assimilation Through Education: Indian Boarding Schools in the
Pacific Northwest." American Indians of the
Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Libraries, n.d. Web. 18
July 2012. <http://content.lib.washington.edu/aipnw/marr.html>.
Mintz, S. "Kill the Indian and Save the Man." Digital History. Digital History, n.d. Web. 18 July 2012.
<http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/native_voices/nav4.html>.
Winnecmucca, Sarah. “Life Among the Piutes:Their Wrongs and
Claims.” The Literary West: An Anthology of Western American Literature. Ed.
Thomas J. Lyon. New York: Oxford University Press Inc., 1999. 65-69. Print.
