Boarding schools

Definition

Boarding schools for Native American children were institutions designed to assimilate Indigenous youth into Euro-American culture, often at the cost of their own cultural identities. These schools sought to erase Native languages, traditions, and social structures, leading to profound changes in both individuals and communities.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The boarding school system in the U.S. was officially established in the late 19th century, with Carlisle Indian Industrial School being one of the first and most notable examples.
2. Students were often forcibly removed from their families and communities, with the intention of breaking familial ties and cultural connections.
3. These schools enforced strict rules against speaking Native languages or practicing traditional customs, promoting a curriculum focused on manual labor and basic education in English.
4. Many graduates of boarding schools faced discrimination and alienation within their own communities due to the loss of language and cultural practices.
5. The legacy of boarding schools continues to affect Native American communities today, contributing to ongoing issues related to identity, trauma, and cultural recovery.

Review Questions

• How did boarding schools impact the cultural identity of Native American children during their time of attendance?
  • Boarding schools significantly impacted the cultural identity of Native American children by enforcing assimilation policies that discouraged their native languages and traditions. Students were often punished for speaking their languages or practicing cultural customs, leading many to internalize a sense of shame about their heritage. This forced cultural erasure not only affected individual students but also had lasting repercussions on their families and communities, as traditional knowledge and practices were lost or diminished.
• Discuss the motivations behind the establishment of boarding schools for Native American children and how these motivations reflected broader societal attitudes.
  • The establishment of boarding schools for Native American children was motivated by a desire to assimilate Indigenous peoples into Euro-American culture, reflecting broader societal attitudes that viewed Native cultures as inferior. The belief in manifest destiny and the notion that civilization should be spread justified policies aimed at erasing Indigenous identities. This institutionalization of assimilation was rooted in colonial ideologies that sought to control and 'civilize' Native populations through education, often disregarding their inherent rights and cultures.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of the boarding school system on contemporary Native American communities and the ongoing challenges they face.
  • The long-term effects of the boarding school system on contemporary Native American communities include widespread trauma, loss of language, and a fractured sense of identity among individuals. Many families continue to grapple with the repercussions of historical trauma resulting from forced separation and cultural suppression. Additionally, these challenges have led to efforts for cultural revitalization and healing within Indigenous communities today, as they work to reclaim their languages, traditions, and sense of identity amidst the continuing impacts of colonization.

Related terms

Assimilation: The process by which individuals or groups adopt the cultural norms of another group, often leading to the loss of original cultural identity.

Cultural genocide: Actions aimed at erasing the culture and identity of a specific group, often through policies that suppress language, traditions, and beliefs.

Indian Boarding School Movement: A historical movement in the United States that established a network of boarding schools aimed at assimilating Native American children into mainstream society.