10.2 Daily life and experiences in boarding schools
2 min read•august 9, 2024
Boarding schools aimed to erase Native American culture through strict discipline and assimilation tactics. Students faced military-style regimens, abuse, and cultural suppression. English-only policies and replaced traditional practices, while uniforms erased cultural identities.
The personal impact on students was severe. Forcibly separated from families, many experienced trauma and cultural identity loss. This led to long-term consequences for individuals and communities, including and communication gaps between generations.
Oppressive Environment
Military-Style Discipline and Regimentation
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Strict daily schedules governed every aspect of students' lives
Students marched between activities in formation
Punishments enforced for minor infractions (tardiness, speaking Native languages)
Military-inspired hierarchies established among students
Regimentation aimed to instill obedience and conformity
Boarding schools modeled after military academies to break tribal bonds
Abuse and Control Mechanisms
Physical abuse included beatings, withholding food, and solitary confinement
Emotional abuse involved public humiliation and degrading language
Sexual abuse cases reported at multiple institutions
Uniform dress codes erased cultural identities
Traditional clothing and hairstyles prohibited
Identical European-style uniforms issued to all students
Control extended to personal hygiene and appearance
Assimilation Tactics
Language and Cultural Suppression
English-only policies strictly enforced in all aspects of school life
Speaking Native languages resulted in severe punishments
Traditional names replaced with English ones
Native religious practices and spiritual beliefs forbidden
Cultural ceremonies and traditions prohibited on school grounds
Students taught to view their heritage as primitive and uncivilized
Vocational Training and Labor Exploitation
Curriculum focused on manual labor and domestic skills
Boys trained in farming, carpentry, and blacksmithing
Girls taught cooking, sewing, and housekeeping
Academic education often limited or substandard
Students required to perform extensive unpaid labor for the school
Work programs sometimes extended to local communities, providing cheap labor
Personal Impact
Family Separation and Emotional Trauma
Children forcibly removed from families, often at young ages
Limited or no contact with parents and siblings for extended periods
Emotional bonds with family members weakened or severed
Trauma of separation led to lifelong psychological effects
Many students experienced feelings of abandonment and isolation
Reuniting with families often difficult due to cultural and linguistic barriers
Cultural Identity Loss and Long-Term Consequences
Traditional knowledge and practices not passed down to younger generations
Students struggled to fit in both Native and non-Native societies after leaving school
created communication gaps between generations
Many graduates experienced identity crises and cultural confusion
Intergenerational trauma impacted Native communities for decades
Some students internalized negative views of their own culture and heritage