10.1 Origins and goals of the boarding school system

The boarding school system was a key part of the U.S. government's assimilation policies. These schools aimed to erase Native American cultures and force children to adopt Euro-American ways. The system had far-reaching impacts on Indigenous communities.

Richard Henry Pratt's motto "Kill the Indian, Save the Man" summed up the boarding schools' goals. Children were taken from their families, given English names, and forbidden from speaking their languages. The effects of this cultural genocide are still felt today.

Assimilation Policies

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• Assimilation involved forcibly integrating Native Americans into mainstream American society
• Civilization Fund Act of 1819 provided financial support for organizations to "civilize" Native Americans
• Cultural genocide aimed to eradicate Native American languages, religions, and traditions
• Americanization programs sought to replace Native cultures with Euro-American values and practices
• Forced acculturation imposed Western education, Christianity, and individualism on Native communities

Implementation of Assimilation Policies

• Federal government established day schools on reservations to teach English and American customs
• Missionaries played a key role in converting Native Americans to Christianity
• Land allotment policies broke up communal tribal lands into individual parcels
• Native children were often removed from their families and sent to boarding schools
• Traditional Native American religious practices were outlawed and suppressed

Impact and Resistance to Assimilation

• Many Native Americans resisted assimilation efforts by preserving their languages and cultural practices
• Assimilation policies led to significant loss of Native American cultural knowledge and traditions
• Some Native individuals and communities adapted to new circumstances while maintaining their identity
• Long-term effects included intergenerational trauma and disconnection from cultural roots
• Native American activism in the 20th century sought to reclaim and revitalize traditional cultures

Boarding School System

Origins and Philosophy of Indian Boarding Schools

• Richard Henry Pratt founded the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in 1879
• Pratt's motto "Kill the Indian, Save the Man" encapsulated the boarding school philosophy
• Boarding schools aimed to completely transform Native American children culturally and socially
• Schools were often located far from reservations to isolate children from their families and cultures
• Military-style discipline and regimentation characterized the boarding school environment

Structure and Curriculum of Boarding Schools

• Children were given English names and forbidden from speaking their native languages
• Traditional Native American clothing and hairstyles were replaced with Western attire
• Curriculum focused on basic academic subjects and vocational training
• Boys learned trades such as farming and carpentry, while girls were taught domestic skills
• Religious instruction, typically Christian, was a central component of the education

Consequences and Legacy of the Boarding School System

• Many children experienced physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at boarding schools
• High rates of illness and death occurred due to poor living conditions and inadequate healthcare
• Boarding school experiences led to loss of language, cultural knowledge, and family connections
• Intergenerational trauma resulted from the boarding school system, affecting Native communities today
• Some Native Americans used skills learned at boarding schools to advocate for Indigenous rights