These days, most American Indian children go to public schools. But remnants still exist of the boarding-school system the federal government set up for Indian children in the late 1800s. Some people, such as U.S. officials at the Bureau of Indian Affairs, question whether the government should continue to be in the boarding-school business. Many students at these schools say they are a necessary escape from the poverty and addiction that plague many reservations.
Listen to this story and post your reactions American Indian School a Far Cry from the Past
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I found this aticle very interesting – reservations aren’t exactly what I would have imagined them to be. For one thing I would have never thought that there would be so much suicides and drugs on reservations. I’m curious as to why this is happening. I am also surprised at how strict the boarding schools are, I would have expected something more laid back. I also didn’t realize that they were just starting to have on-reservation schools, I though that all reservations had them and am very surprised that they are instead sent to some boarding school to other locations. I have to say that I can understand the Indians wanting the schools to be on the reservations because it makes sense. If thts where they live and where thier tribe and culture is then what better place to learn. It’s dissappointing to learn that the government is cutting down on thier money for schools. I can somewhat understand because of how the economy has been lately, but you would think that after all this nation had put the Indians through, the least we could do is give them money to show our support. Especially if it is helping and making a difference, which it sounds like it is.
Little side not before i start talking about the article- I like the blog more than the wiki posts, we don’t have to wait our turns!
Anyway, this article is a little disturbing to me. The fact that this school is so strict on these students; it reminds me of an educational internment camp. The don’t really have anytime for social activities, unless they earn it through good behavior. It’s surprising that we still have schools like this though, I would have thought that it would not be, it’s as if segregation isn’t outlawed. It’s sad that the Native American way of life and culture is still, in a way, being extinguished.
The idea of federally-run off-reservation boarding schools seems to have actually been a fairly good one. It is disturbing that conditions on reservations are still bad enough for so many people to turn to alcohol and suicide. However, judging by the article, these schools have done a fairly good job of helping kids on these reservations, growing up in such a hopeless environment. However, it is sad that once the federal government finally starts doing something that actually benefits the Native American population, it cuts the funding to the point where it would be nearly impossible to continue the program.
In found this audio unsettling, even though I already knew the type of things Native Americans had to endure at school like this. It is just unbelievable that we as a democracy and a free country would try to purify a race, and have such little disregard for culture. Americans represent so many different cultures, and at this time period more and more cultures were assimilating into our lifestyle, and I don’t understand why this would be much different. To make someone change everything about them is ridiculous, especially to not let someone practice their own religion. We have the first amendment for a reason, and it should not be violated, if the government is going to allow them to integrate into our society then they should be considered citizens and be protected by the law. This would mean that they would have had the basic rights that everyone has which would be right to an education. What they were recieving was not an education, they were being “trained” to be a white man. They should have been able to attend public schools off the reservations and not have to worry about dicrimination because there would be administrators to defend them. They should not have been beated, severly disciplined or had any element of their life taken away from them. And they definitely should NOT have been taken away from their families. Are we really that shallow, that something such as skin color, hair length and clothing would bother us so much that we thought we had to wipe out the culture forever? ~Lauren
i thought this was very upsetting. Native Americans have the same rights that any other human being does and now our government is taking the funding away from these schools? But i do understand our government. They don’t fund boarding schools to other people, and there still is public school for these kids. But i also understand that these kids need to stay with there culture because it is who they are. There people worked for it, they should cherish it.
I think both articles were interesting. The ffer differnet views on the schools. The one man went to the one school earlier and so the schools have improved sense then. I didn’t really know much about Indian Reservations, I was very informed on the addiction and such on the reservations. The schools really do seem to give a safe haven to the students that would face hard lives at home. But it restricts them from having an Average American Teenage lfe, but I guess they wouldn’t really have that on the reservation either. The public schools still have the students on the reservations while theyre not in school, which can lead them to lives of addiction. I guess it really should be up to the student to pick which life they would rather live; public school or private school. It’s probobly a different expierence for everyone and not one person can really decided wether its good or not.
So I just wrote my whole thing and the computer shut off on me. Rawr. I believe our homework is supposed to be posted here, I wasn’t really sure though. First off. I thought it was hilarious that the children in the schools would be “privileged” with the occasional trip to Wal-Mart. That was funny. Anyway, I always thought of reservations as kind of good things, places where Native Americans could maintain their culture and teach it to their children and carry it out without, other than being restricted to only that place, limits. I wasn’t aware of the bad aspects of it such as the high suicide rates, alcoholism, drug abuse, and their lack of a formal education. I believe that these boarding schools should be maintained and the federal government should actually do more to help maintain them, keep them going strong and keep these children on the right path. It’s very important that Native American children aren’t denied their education just because of their history. Many of their parents I’m sure don’t want them in public schools because they are very traditional in the reservations. However, without the Native American boarding schools, they would have only the education their parents can give them, which, generally, is no longer sufficient due to new technologies and the advancements that America had made. It is also important to keep their culture within them which is also what these schools do. And most importantly it is very important that the children aren’t forced to stay in a place as corrupt as many of the reservations are today, children shouldn’t be around alcoholism, drug addicts, and suicide. They need to be happy and in a safe environment, that is what the Native American boarding schools do for them.
After reading to both of the stories, it seems a bit ironic that the original boarding schools were created to break the Native American will, to destroy its culture and to make the Native Americans more “civilized”, but the schools today work to preserve and pass on the traditions of various Native American tribes. The way that Native American children were forced off of their reservations and away from their families is appalling and the fact that they were stripped of their Indian identities is even worse. In todays society if you go to certain cities, you will find communities steeped in the traditions of their immigrant founders(e.g. little Italy, Chinatown), but you will probably never find a community devoted to Native American traditions unless you go onto a reservation which not many people do. It is ironic that the cultures of people from foreign nations were embraced while the traditions of America’s native people was ruled obsolete, uncivilized, and worthless by the people who tortured, massacred, and mutilated the “savages”.
This article really stressed another important part of Indian schools, the ones that are around today and that help at risk Indian youths with a structured curriculum and life style. The government and reservations want to start to shut down these schools. but i really feel that if they did the Indian youths growing up sniffing gasoline and surrounded by suicide have no place to go. beside what makes this any different than white group homes. My parents worked in one for a couple years and the boys they worked with were expected to do a lot that the Indians are expected to do in these boarding schools. They had to get up on school days at a certain time and they were expected to go to school and learn (usually trade type of job) just as the Natives are expected to. I believe that the girl in the end is totally right, in the beginning the Indian youths will resent it because someone is finally expecting something out of them and they are giving them rigid rules by which to set standards. I believe that a school like that has to start somewhere and sometime rules are the answers. in the end the youths will realize that they were really helped and given a chance to be more than an alcoholic living on the rez but rather an educated and respected person of Indian descent who adds to the culture and society of the Indian reservation sites. I believe that this will indeed helps the youths a lot more if they kept the schools open and gave some of these Indian youths a chance- Lydia <3
it is interesting that the shift between oppressing and encouraging Native American practices coincided with the reform movements of the 1960s. It is unique to point out the benefits of government sponsored boarding schools. They provide an avenue of escape for students, so they can get away from the suicide, drugs, and alcoholism. And obviously the opportunity to graduate and attend college is an important benefit. However, I believe that schools teaching Native American culture should be run by Native Americans, just like schools teaching Christian beliefs are run by Christians. I think the existing schools should be transferred to positive Native American leadership (similar to the Navejo schools) but should definitely receive necessary aid from the federal government. It should be ensured that teachers and administrators are qualified, positive influences on students. Whether on or off the reservation, Native American students would be able to obtain a quality education that equips them for any path they choose in their life. These schools should be monitored to make sure the education quality is equal to that of other federally supported schools. If off the reservation, they should be subject to testing standards and graduation requirements. If they’re on the reservation, they should be provided with materials to give students and equal education. Bottom line: these schools need to stay open, regardless of leadership, to provide a quality education for Native Americans and a chance for them to advance in life. — Meg f
In my opinion, I feel like the Indian reservations are very important to the culture of the Native Americans. They help the Native Americans preserve their culture and also help the younger generation learn about the culture before them. Even thou the reservations help preserve the Native American culture they also corrupt the younger generation of Native Americans at the same time. For example, suicide, drug and alcohol rates are extremely high on the reservations. Also the lack of a good education hurts the Native Americans from succeeding later in life. Therefore I support the Native American boarding schools for many reasons. For example, The Native Americans need a good education to succeed in life which they would get from the boarding schools. Also these schools help preserve the Indian culture as well as giving them a formal education at the same time. Therefore, I believe the Native Americans should leave their corrupt reservations and get formally educated in the boarding schools.
This article looked at positives to boarding school life for Native Americans, not only the negative. They are stressed as, after reform, places where Native Americans can share their culture and languages. They are places that teach and advocate native customs and skills. Despite living by strict schedules and discipline, they bring together 85 tribes from cities and reservations. They are places where they can escape the alcohol and violence of reservation life. These boarding schools offer opportunities for smaller tribes who can’t afford schools or controlling crime. Places like Sherman Indian High School are for some, the only opportunity they have. Society is split on continuing or ending boarding schools, however if the students who attend want to go, then who is to take that away from them? Even if there is violence, culture discrimination, and abuse these things can be changed. The system can be reformed. I think as American citizens we all should have the right to an education, happiness, and true freedom of culture. Native Americans should have every chance and right to succeed. Their education should not be controlled by the government or treated any differently than anywhere else. I also believe that to get themselves out of the hole, they have to do it themselves. They can’t rely on the government to help them. No it isn’t their fault they are in deeper then they can get out of, but it is their fault their efforts to better themselves are poor. We offer a hand to help them up, if they don’t like how our racist, biased, and often unfair system works, they shouldn’t take our hand, or complain about it if they don’t do much about it. I would like to see how these reservations and communities of Native Americans strive to advance themselves. They can’t judge others before they judge themselves, they can’t expect anymore from others then they give.
I believe that the Boarding School is both a burden to some and in a way, a haven for others. It’s obvious that it would be a negative aspect in one’s life in that its restrictions and limitations lead them to feel the same (limited, restricted, etc) but that’s a better alternative to becoming depressed, dropping out and committing suicide. However, for those seeking to better their lives and go to the Boarding School voluntarily, I think it’s a great opportunity for them to have structure in their lives that they lack at home and get a feel for how it feels to live with someone expecting something from them, a standard. I don’t understand why tribes such as the Navajo Indians would discourage the attending of Boarding Schools by their younger members. Educating the children will ultimately lead to a larger population and better opportunities for all. It’s made obvious that being educated at a stricter boarding school could have a large impact on one’s life like it did for Seana Edwards, who states that attending the Boarding School “saved her life, in a way”. Without an education from the Boarding School, she admits that she would have a dead-end job. I believe that funding should continue and should be strongly encouraged to continue for these schools; I don’t see any reason why they would negatively impact the Indian life if they are so accomodating and encouraging of Indian culture.
I believe that boarding schools like this should continue to exist. I believe that the government , since it provides reservations with other necesities, should provide these reservations with money to build and maintain schools like this one. If these schools would become available to reservations the schools could focus on their individual customs. I also believe that these schools should teach subjects taught in our schools and that they should be treated equally. Since reservations can’t make their own money, with a few exceptions, they can’t pay for schools like this by themselves. This is why the government should continue to found schools like this one. If these schools could be instated then the education of the young could lead to less poverty and better situations. This class of people would also be fluent in their own customs so they could carry this with them and teach it to their children. I think that it would greatly increase the situations on the reservations.- Max Groves
So as I was reading about the school…it sounded an awful lot like an uptight military school. The students can’t do teenage stuff with their friends outside of the campus…at least without the staff. I think that would suck, but at least the students are putting up with it for a reason. They want the opportunities that the school offers to them. Also the school is offering them ways to keep their customs, such as basket weaving. I find it absolutely awesome that these kids from reservations that are full of alcoholism and suicide can have the same opportunities that we do to go to college. Although for them, the road there is probably a lot more difficult that it is for us. I don’t think I could deal with having to be up by 6 every morning, and not being able to go out except for the occasional trip to Wal-Mart (I agree with Alex…It is kind of funny). It just shows how determined Native Americans are, and that they will do so much for their chance of having a better life.
Since the federal government is already involved in the situation in what I see as a negative way, I believe that the Native American reservations should simply be incorporated into the rest of the United States. All land and property could remain in the same hands, traditions could be continued, and parents could educate their children traditionally in any way they deem appropriate. However, there would be many additional opportunities, not being confined to a reservation. There is no reason that the percent of Native Americans graduating from high school should be so low. It’s also possible that if they weren’t as isolated from the rest of society, the rates of suicide and other destructive behaviors could decrease with the influence of society. I’m not in any way suggesting assimilation, but simply widening opportunities, and along with this more of an equal sense.
While listening to this segment, I found the stories of the students from Sherman Indian High School both hopeful and unfortunate. In a positive light, it was gratifying to hear that some of the Native American youth today have an escape from their reservations. Although their escape is not like a pleasant trip to rehab, they do receive an education and some direction on life that they would never acquire from living on their native plantations. This brings me to the sad side of the segment where students spoke of their horrid experiences back home including youth suicide and alcoholism, which both are taking place daily around them. It amazes me how set back these reservations are and how difficult it is to overcome the oppression that has occurred and is still occurring today.
The fact that these schools have changed their ways is fortunate. If the culture of the Native American tribes disappeared, a large piece of North American history would vanish with it. Since these kids are not learning things from their families, the original Americans are loosing their identities. With the schools, not only are the children are protected from bad influences, but they also have an opportunity to revive their heritage. Granted, I wouldn’t appreciate being locked away without privileges in such a way, but it’s better than loosing any grasp of who I am. Boarding school is also much better than going to jail (ironic that they started as jails). I agree with Alex that the government needs to begin providing financial support for Native American education, and these schools need to be better maintained.
Sherman Indian High School almost seems more like a punishment than an opportunity. The way it was described at times makes it sound more like a jail, with the students being fenced in, having a strict schedule, and constantly being watched by staff memebers. It makes me wonder why more Native Americans from reservations aren’t able to attend public schools. Do the problems of poverty and such on reservations prevent them from being able to do this? Despite Sherman Indian High School’s rigid structure, the school does provide the students with the chance to learn more about their culture and other tribes, and it also helps them with getting accepted to colleges. The government has continued to fund off reservation boarding schools such as Sherman Indian High School. However, they started off with less good intentions. At first they were a way to assimilate Native Americans and make them more “civilized”. They would take these children unwillingly from their family and put them in schools were they changed their way of dress and cut their long hair which they took pride in. Back then the schools were less about education.
I must admit, this was hard to listen to. I do understand that these children deserve a better life and are grateful for the education and services we (as Americans) have provided for them. I guess I just feel like it still isn’t right for us to go into Native American land and tell their children what they can and cannot do. Sort of like Iraq, maybe. I don’t want to talk about the war at all, nor do I want to express my personal opinion on the war or the Republican Administration or anything at all: I am simply using the current situation in Iraq as a COMPARISON, nothing more. (So please don’t freak out at me and call me a dirty democrat or anything like that, thanks.) Some believe that our presence in Iraq is unnecessary and uncalled for. Others believe that we are providing a service and helping the Iraqi people to gain independence whether it be political, social or economic. I feel like the way we intrude on Native American grounds and “teach” these children our ways of life with intentions of helping them, is uncalled for. Up until the 1960′s, Native American culture was not allowed in such schools and these children weren’t allowed to even learn their own history. I believe it is highly important to each generation that we learn about those before us, so as not to make the same mistakes. Don’t get me wrong: I feel VERY strongly about the bettering treatment of the Native American population– treatment being the key word. I’m not sure there’s anything to “better” about the Native American people, or at least there wasn’t until we came along. I guess now we’re only trying to undo what we’ve done to these people, and right our wrongs. I think, on a whole, America needs to learn how to let go.
-Ashlie Busone
In some aspects, the Native American government boarding schools are certainly not great places to be students. On the other hand, they also have great aspects that make them desirable. The students don’t only due traditional schoolwork. They also do more physical work such as cleaning and are forced to wake up early everyday, or else face punishments in the form of loss of merits. The schools have tightly controlled environments, yet some students feel they are with better conditions then their homes. One good piece in the zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol, which presents students from making poor decisions they might make if they were to stay home. A downside is that the students are not free to do what they want when they want to, as they would be on weekends and weeknights if they were to attend public schools. A trip to Wal-Mart under close watch, for example, is something fun for them to look forward to doing. Positively, the rigorous work and conditions pays off for those who stick it out, offering the students plenty of opportunity. Furthermore, students nowadays are frequently exposed to Indian culture, as apposed to prior to the 1960s, when the culture was being expelled from schools and students were punished for practicing Indian cultures. There is a hot topic over whether these schools should even still be in existence; there are people arguing for both sides. Tribes now control about half of the schools. Most Navajo students now attend public schools close to home. However, many smaller tribes do not have the money or resources to own their own schools. Many students say the Sherman school “saved” them. Overall, the students have better lives after attending the schools then before they were there. The opportunities that they are offered are much better in comparison to the conditions of the reservations. I think that the schools are good ideas to prevent the corruption of at-risk youth on the reservations.
This article was about the types of American Indian school’s that help Indian kids who are in a bad situation at home or just feel like they need a change from out of a public school because they don’t think they are doing as good as they could be doing. I believe these schools are important to have because the American Indian population has the highest suicide, alchohoism, and drug use rates out of all the populations and in these schools students are kept away from all this nonsense. The high school life might be hard, but when the students graduate and move on to college they will realize that it was all worth it. I do not find it fair though that the American Indian kids just because they were born Indian now automatically have a pretty hard life in front of them.This has to change and i think that these school are giving Indian kids a much better chance of having at a good life.
I found this reading to be very interesting. I see the pros and the cons of the boarding school for Native Americans. It gives them a structured place for education, and the school actually does help students achieve, as seen from Seana Edwards’ account. I liked how they are using the schools to not only give the kids a good education, but also to teach them about there culture and their native language. I didn’t really get the whole purpose of teaching them to make baskets though… I see how that can teach the culture, but it just seems almost silly to be teaching kids basket weaving along with academics like math and science. Also, like Alex, I found it funny how they are privileged with trips to Walmart for good behavior. The problem I had with the school however was mainly it’s strictness. It seems like the schools are way to strict. Like getting demerits if they don’t wake up at 6:00 AM sharp, and how they have to clean the school every morning. Also, I don’t like how they aren’t allowed to do their own thing; a staff member needs to always be with them wherever they go, and they aren’t allowed to go do normal teenage-type things. I do believe though that the schools should continue to exist. There is a valid point with sending them away from the reservation, where there are high levels of alcoholism and suicide, because if they continued to live on the reservation, they could be influenced by the people there. At the boarding schools, none of this goes on, and they have good, positive influences instead of the bad ones found on the reservation. Strict as they may be, the boarding schools give Native American children and teenagers a chance to succeed and go on to a good education, which might not be able to happen if they ended up staying on the reservation.
I like the more modern boarding schools due to the rich culture they are now presented with, but the reason for the school in the beginning I feel is harsh, unnecessary and cruel. I know the United States was having issues with their “Indian Wars” during this time. I know they felt they could not only “Americanize” the Native American children, but also hold something over the Natives heads while they fought to help the United States have the upper hand. In the beginning the environment was very harsh and this treatment had translated into their lives later on. They were violent in their homes to their children because of the way they had been treated in the boarding schools. There are scars on many who went to these schools to this day. I didn’t even know these existed, and how awful they were. Personally, I think the ignorance the United Stats has had over the years involving any culture or group of people is not only annoying but disgusting. I watched the youtube news report on the main page and I was shocked at my findings. How could I have not known that all this time there was such poverty and destruction in South Dakota? Our own country in the place where I thought had been moderately well off; I don’t understand how this couldn’t be more known and attempted to be fixed. I was ill-informed about reservations, but I thought I knew. Less than a 50% survival rate on these reservations? Top teen suicide rates, pushing cars in order to sell the televisions inside them for dinner? Like the narrator said, these are decedents of Sitting Bull, and it seems the Native Americans lost more than I thought during that time. I’m still in shock honestly.
I think that the boarding school idea is a very good one, if it takes Native American children away from the alcholism and sucide on the reservations. However, it seems that the boarding school is like a prison or a school for juvinille delinquits (dont know if i spelt that right). It’s perversly ironic that the native americans, who once had control of the entire nation, now are imprisoned, either in reservations or these boarding schools. But i do think that education, along with the encouragement of the Native American culture, will hopefully better the lives of these children, and so the government should continue to fund them. What was shocking to me was that until the sixities Native americans were still treated this way. It’s appaling. However i have a question: did native americans have a large role in the civil rights movement? I can’t think of anyone to the extreme of Martin Luther King jr, but it would be interesting to find out.
I found this article somewhat disturbing to read. I thought it interesting that Native Americans have the highest
percent of teens involved in drugs, alcohol and suicide! But what really bugged me about this is the fact that up until
the 1960′s our government tried to expel the native culture and assimiliate them into “Americans” but now we’re trying
to preserve their heritage… only fifty years later. And what exactly is being “American”? Our culture is the most
diverse on the planet but we’ve only come to respect and admire the beautiful Native American culture since the
1960′s…? Personally I can tell you my heritage is made up of practically half Europe but what makes me more or less
“American” than say someone at Sherman Indian High School? Am I more privledged in the fact I can go to Walmart when I choose to..?
Normally, I find myself to be a fierce advocate for equality of civil and human rights, however it has just dawned upon me how truly delicate the situation is between the United States and our contigous, Native American tribes. Essentially, the various Native Americans of North America are existing as independent nations within the massive United States. Therefore, such close contact has aggravated the civilizations’ long existing cultural differences. I believe that much of the turmoil between Indian tribes and the U.S. arises from the fact that Native American tribes wish to be included in the American nation, while also requesting ample funding for their interior reservations, however Natives wish to have cultural autonomy and safeguarded freedom to carry on their ancestral heritage. These desires, while appropriate and most definitely needed, are clear contradictions of one another. How can a group of people request all of the benfits of inclusion in the U.S., while rejecting the national acculturation and cohesion that comes with being apart of such a large nation as ours is? People of countless other ethnicities and nationalties have willingly allowed their cultures to blend with those of America, yet Native Americans resist such blending. If regarded as part of our nation, then why not truly become part of this nation by absorbing national culture, while injecting some of their own? This is not my denouncement of Natives, in any way, but I believe that Native Americans should clarify their role within the United States, or just request independence.
The pubic is very uninformed about Indian reservations. Who knew how badly natives lived. Lacking education and having poor home lives, led to excessive drug abuse. Sounds like a repetition of today’s teens. Fortunately, in my opinion, boarding schools, like Sherman, were established. I’m glad these schools promoted cultures of natives whereas they were previously scolded. The schools offered a much-needed second chance and a way out for native teens. Many teens even progressed on into collage, quite an achievement from the fields of the reservation.
After reading this story it suprised me at the poor quality of life these people have. Even today it is still hard for them to be successful due to alcoholism, drug abuse, and suicide but the off-reservation boarding schools have seemed to help for the most part. It gives them a chance to get a good education and go off to college so that they can be successful and hopefully break the cycle of poverty and abuse that so many can’t seem to fall out of. I still don’t understand why the government hasn’t done anything more to help these people, maybe they don’t see what’s going on? But still something should be done about it.
I found this reading very eye opening to the situation many Native Americans face today. However, i would like to focus on a reference to how they were treated in the past. It was mentioned that at one point the government didn’t want the Native Americans expressing their heritage or teaching their customs. This is very hypocritical because the United States prides itself on being a melting pot where many different cultures have contributed to its make up. And yet there we were, directing them how to live. The United States would view this as unrightious in other countries, sure, but on our homelands apparently it was ok. Even now that Native Americans are free to express their culture they are singled out whether it be from living on reservations or going to a boarding school. It’s unfortunate that the melting pot of America still consists of divided cultural lines.
I believe that the heart of the issue lies not in the ethics of removing an indian from a reservation in order to expose him or her to a different culture. Plenty of my friends have studied abroad and i believe that the effect would be comparable.
I believe in stead that beyond the issue lies the question of the fate of indian culture. I think that assimilation is perhaps the wrong approach, and that rather, through education and technology, a modernization could occur.
Just as many Pagan cultures are being revived as Neopagan religions, I believe that through the educations indians recieve both on and off the reservation a modern Indian culture can be established. The religions that are most successful are those which can adapt themselves to any setting. That is why Islamic culture is dominant in diverse places as far away from each other as Mali and the East Indies. I think a modernized Indian culture which allowed indians to live among other citizens and without total isolation would be greatly successful in a similar way.
While it would potentially change the culture at the surface, the heart of the rituals would remain and the potential for success in economic fields would expound. – Dane
It seems like a radical win- lose situation for these Indian students. Some see it as an escape from the impoverished and vice ridden reservations. A chance to get away from the drugs, alcohol, and crime. However, for others, it means separation from their culture and heritage.
It should be the responsibility of the government to ensure that these boarding schools offer the same opportunity, education, and experience that a public school does, yet with some boarding school characteristics still in tact for those who chose to take that path. a possibility would be to put these schools on or very close to the reservation, so as not to separate the students too far from there culture, yet still giving the opportunity to those who wish for a new life to move to those away from the reservation.
I think that shocker isn’t a word I would use for this kind of newly acquired information. I believe that unknown is more fit. For generations we learn about Native American past but until someone hands us an article on a silver platter, most of this information goes unknown, and I could possibly just be speaking for myself, but I highly doubt that I’m the only one.
Reservations are known to cause hard lives and also a cause of loss of tradition. As stated in this article they hold repeating situations-suicide and alcohol abuse. A get-away from these most common events is known to be an escape for many which I think is beneficial to the Native American youth. I understand from the article that tribes think that staying on reservations is a better system and possibly for them it might be, but the boarding schools not only provide traditional practices for the youth, they allow future steps to college and possibly a more prosperous life. A prime example was Seana Edwards. I think that finding that balance between the cultural/traditional and modern aspects is a necessary. The world is changing and moving forward but that doesn’t mean traditions have to be lost. A happy medium between the two is was the boarding schools provide. With the federal budget change, anything is possible but possibly not in the forward direction. The boarding schools are crucial for that young Native American to recieve the same chance as any other youth.
As for the harsh conditons of these schools, I don’t think that they’re terribly shocking as I said before but I will change how I describe this information because it isn’t unknown either. It can be related to our similar system here at Ballston Spa, however, the intensity of the situation could be extreme to an extent. Here in good ol BSpa I can say that every morning when I or in general most students get up the sun isn’t up, similar to the “rise and shine” conditions of the Sherman students. Now I don’t have to clean my bathroom before classes but making the bed or possibly other chores could be bestowed upon us by out parental units. Consequences for us could be called demerits just as the Sherman students. For us disobeying chores in the morning when told to do so could lead to the loss of a privilege of a night out or tv/ computer time, possibly even grounding (if it became a habit). The Sherman students have to earn outings to places such as Walmart and similar to us, we have to earn and be responsible enough to be able to keep our privilege to go out with our friends or to the mall…maybe even an outing to Walmart (whatever floats your boat). As for being confined within school grounds, maybe a fence isn’t used to the students here at Ballston Spa High School like it is at Sherman but we aren’t allowed to leave the school without permission and similarly we have teachers, hall monitors, and other staff all around us, monitoring our behavior, actions, words, and even thoughts. At Sherman, students have to be escorted on outings and do not have the freedom to stay and move freely in places as they wish. This is where I point out the different levels of intensity between the two societies.
I’m not saying that the life of a boarding school is not as difficult as it sounds, but I found it connected to the high school system we live our lives in. Education is a necessity, in one way or another. Boarding schools help young Native Americans just as BSHS helps us. Our school gives us a place to feel connected with people in a similar situation or an escape to see friends and away from home. Boarding schools give the same feelings and support. They teach vitols to Native American tradition while exposing the students to whats out there. They are stepping stones to a balanced successful life for the upcoming generations of today.
Not being aware to news everyday I found this suprising and disheartening. I think it’s unfair to pull a race out of their homeland and put the teenagers in private schools where the rules are too strict, strict enough that to Americans it would feel like a prison. Yes, the Native American people did have troubles in their homeland with alcohol, high suicide rates but I think that they still can preserve their culture without being put into schools just for their people. Public schools like the one we attend everyday would be different but they could soon adapt to it, learn other cultures as well as keep their own.
I really don’t know what to say. I feel like the Indians have a right to keep going to their own schools to keep their culture, but it’s just so awfull on the reservations… and then again at the boarding schools. I hope that they too don’t wish to lose their culture and rich heritage- it would be sad and final if all were assimilated until there was nothing left of their old ways, but maybe they’d want to recieve traditional teaching in a friendlier environment. The reservations are small and filled with desperation and disease of the mind (alcohol, suicides, poverty), so it is understandable why they are sent away from it, but these boarding schools are so harsh and are also unfair in their own ways. One one hand of these children and adolecent’s parents, you do not wish for your child to be stuck in the poverty of the reservation, but then you also do not want them unhappy. As long as the boarding schools do not try to wretch away their traditions, it will always be better than the assimilation-aimed schools of years ago. Also as long as they actually learn appliable things that will be a solid stepping stone for their lives. The schedual is strict and not anything any of us would care for, but perhaps they aren’t unhappy there. In many ways it is much much better off than the reservation education (for one, no drugs or alcohol allowed- whoo hoo!), and maybe they need the discipline that will teach them to work hard. But all of these are maybe’s to me: I’m not the one in the school or the one left behind on a sparse reservation. We need to be asking their opinions- that is what we should go on.
I think that it’s great that Native American Culture is being preserved and taught, but the strictness of the institution is a little scary. Then again, either option runs its own unfavorable course: going to a strict boarding school, or staying on a reservation. I don’t know much about this subject, this podcast was the first time I heard of something like this….but I think it’s better for tribes to run their own schools (because they can cater it to their own needs/wants), it provides an opportunity to educate native american without the government’s imposing hand.
Maybe it’s just me; but after reading about the Indian Removal Act and the Dawes Act, I would prefer the government to stay out of Native American Affairs as much as possible…unless (of course) the tribes should ask for assistance or financial support.
I posted this in the wrong place at first. (sorry)
I think that this country is embarrassing. We have reduced an entire race to poverty. We came in to land already inhabited by people with a rich and interesting culture and we wiped it out. In our country we stressed the freedoms of speech, religion etc, but this one group we decided that their culture couldn’t be preserved. Especially in this day and age it is embarrassing that we confine certain cultures to reservations and make it necessary for people of this descent to have to be sent across the country to boarding school in order learn something about their culture. As a country I think we should learn more about their culture. As citizens of our country,. there is no reason why their schools should not get the same funding as any other school. Their culkture should be embraced not confined to a few schools. Their culture was very practical, it worked around needs, not personal luxury or desire. Laziness couldn’t occur because the things they did they had to do to survive. For a country that is a “melting pot,” we excluded the real roots of our country. -BrianaB
Let’s see if this will post…
Well I think that these schools are a good thing. I think that the fact that these kids have the opportunity to go to a place where they are away from the alcoholism and suicide of the reservations, even if temporary, and to be receiving an education, is an optimistic thing. What contented me the most was the fact that these schools don’t suppress the culture and customs that are the foundation for the Native Americans, but rather, they foster them. The ideology of “kill the Indian, save the man,” I’m sure is not completely diminished among some but the education of the Natives on their own adn other tribal culture is a positve step.
One thing that I think is unfortunate is the fact that the Native Americans are not integrated into society as is. Why can’t they color our multiethnic, mutli-cultural mish mosh of a population with their own unique way of life. It’s not wrong, it’s solely different. With my utopian way of thinking, I think we all learn and grow through our diverse national identity and it is unfortunate that the Native American culture cannot be another that we learn from.
This article was interesting to me because most of the time news about native Americans is ignored. It seems we could be doing so much more, but instead just feel badly. Since we put the Indians on those reservations, it is our responsibility to make sure that they can not only sustain their lives, but be a productive and active member of society if they wish. With their school system at the moment many are falling behind, receiving poor educations, and as a result becoming alcoholics and drug addicts. It’s about time we break the cycle and do something about it, and i believe that does take government action.
PS. This is better because you don’t have to wait, but easier to forget to do it.
The reservations that the natives were forced onto were horrible in almost every aspect. They were forced to live in cramped sectioned-off parcels of land, that usually were not the best plots in the area. They were given rations of spoiled food, and other shabby, or second hand items, which were all that they had to live with. Alcoholism was a major problem within most of the reservations, and once people were introduced to it, they couldn’t stop. This was a contributing factor to the very high suicide rates on the reservations as well. The natives way of life was completely disregarded by the whites, believing that it was inferior to their own, even though part of the foundation of white culture is from the natives. Boarding schools were created to draw away the native youth, and try to assimilate them into white culture. These schools separated the youth from their families, so that they did not have any influence on them, nor could they impress traditional beliefs upon them. The schools were very harsh, a literal “school of hard knocks,” and their actions were restricted and overseen all of the time, and they were fenced in, which to me would be a big psychological factor. If we understood and respected the native american lifestyle, then maybe a lot of the losses that they suffered, and conflicts that occured could have been avoided.
This article enlightened me significantly. I found it to be very interesting in that on reservations, natives tend to wander off to alchoholism and suicide. I believe that these boarding schools are a very beneficial thing to natives and society in general. It gives them a chance to be educated and to learn about their past culture. I know that for me, my ancestry and traditions are very valuable. I could not imagine what it would be like to not have that identity. With these boarding schools, it allows natives to learn about their past, thus I find it to be a very positive thing. Also, nowdays people cannot go anywhere in the real world without an education. An education and college is practically required if you want to move up anywhere in the social structure. Boarding schools allowed natives to get an education and at the same time, treasure their culture. It also allows some, such as Seana Edwards, to go to college. When people cannot contribute to society, they hurt it. Education has allowed many native americans to become part of society and therefore to contribute to it. Therefore, I believe that it would be very harmful for the government to reduce its funding to these schools or potentially close them. It would take away a peice of their hearts (culture) and potentially minds (could deter some natives from school thus resulting in alcoholism and possibly suicide). Overall, I feel that these boarding schools are needed to educate natives and to keep them away from harm. Without education, the mind would be wasted and society would have many weights on its progress to advance into the future, united and strong.
ok well i just wrote a paragraph and tried to submit it and i did something wrong and it erased my paragraph so excuse me if this new paragraph has a nasty undertone b/c it is late and i want to go to bed but this stupid piece of technology is standing in the way of me and sleeping bliss so i apologize. in any case, the native americans deserve more than just a school. how is a school going to help people who have so many issues? these people need more, better forms of help. alternate activities, parenting courses, just anything. indeed, the last thing they want is more white people assuring them of what to do. they, i’m sure, hate america for what it is. i’ll bet they despise the term “native american”. america is everything they hate; honor less, wasteful, environmentally unsound. these people are native to the land, not the culture. yes, they are a small part of what makes america america but white people for so long have concentrated on “more pressing issues”. what could be more pressing than what we’re experiencing now? it disgusts me the way people go about trying to help native americans. indeed, its all in good nature and people do just want to help. but they don’t want our help. they want to be left alone. that’s all they ever wanted. now, since we could never wrap our narrow, selfish minds around the simple concept, we have created a monster in our own country. alcohol abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, substance abuse, depression, suicides, homicides, poor health care, poor child care, poor schooling, lack of ambition, lack of desire. we have taken everything from these people. now we ahve to take even more to fix what we screwed up. do you really think they want us there?