An Unknown Truth

I had absolutely no idea that there were such things as "Indian Reform Boarding Schools" prior to our recent lesson about them in American Studies class. I decided to do a little research on my own and found some interesting information.

http://http//www.kporterfield.com/aicttw/articles/boardingschool.html#section2

In the schools, not only were the Indian children taught a new religion, new values, traditions, ideas, etc., but they were taught that the religion, values and traditions that they had before coming to the reform schools, were inferior to the "white culture". The students were expected to watch each other for any sort of rebellion and then they were to relay any "sightings" to the teachers. The Indians who aggreed to the reform were refferred to as "good indians" and the ones who refused to change their ways were referred to as "bad indians". The boarding schools had "brainwashing techniques" that included filling the students' school days with so much activity and work that they had little or no time to do any personal thinking.

I must say, i found myself a little bit disturbed after learning about "Indain Reform Schools". I cannot believe how people think they have the right to take someone from their homes and families. And then to think that these students are being forced to learn about ideas that completely contradict everything that they have been raised to believe. No one has this right! The whole idea of an "Indian Reform School" just seems so rediculous!