In the
article “Sherman Indian High School” published from Native Peoples Magazine, the author, Colleen Fliedner talks about
how even with all of the labor the kids had to do; Sherman institute was a very
successful boarding school. The school was in California and the problems
started right away. The kids were having trouble with the hot and dry air. They
also had a hard time trying to find water. In Sherman’s early years, the Indian
boys had to get haircuts when they came to the school because they wanted them
to look more like a white person with short hair. This made the boys sad
because their long hair was a sign of what they believed in and it was all gone
in an instant. They also were not allowed to speak their own language and they
had to go to church every Sunday even if that wasn’t part of their religion.
The school didn’t have enough money to keep it going so they had students doing
labor and working off the campus. The money they got went to the school. The
author Colleen said that “The outing system was considered vocational training
and provided cheap labor for those willing to have an Indian live in their
homes.” Sherman institute also had a cemetery because some kids got really sick
and died and they ended up burring them. Sherman institute was a school that
tried to force natives in and teach them more American ways but it has actually
evolved into a really good high school for young Indian kids.
I was so
shocked to find this out because I had no idea that Indians were going to
boarding schools and were doing labor. At the end of this article I was glad to
hear that this school was doing well because now it’s a high school that helps
Indian kids and they can learn anything about their own culture. Something I
thought was cool was the outing system. This helped the students get better
jobs for the future. It is kind of like an elective for us. I was sad to hear
that people were dying at this school from sickness or abuse because they came
to the school to learn, even if it was by force. Something I found puzzling was
that when the kids died, I was wondering if their parents knew about it?
This article really made me feel sad for the Natives, They were just trying to go to school and like you said end up doing labor work and the money they got was paying for them to go to a school that did not even treat them right. I did like however to also hear that the school now is doing well, it's good to know that they are now working with the Indians to help them become more successful in life. As far as your question I guess I am sort of now wondering the same thing, because wouldn't you want to burry your own child, that's sickening to me that the schools would do that.
ReplyDeleteYour article made me relies that the U.S had Indian boarding schools around the entire country. I was thinking how horrible it would be to work in the heat, in California. I wonder How many people actually died there. To be honest I don't think it's a good Idea to keep that school. I think the U.S should demolish it because their is to many sad memories. I would hate to go to that school if I was Indian or any race.
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