|
|
Savage Reformation Living in any environment and society that keeps up with modern civilization needs to keep up with the education plan. The United States whose government was comprised mostly of whites from different regions of Europe during its early years, began to emerge as one of the leading countries in the world, especially with advantage of location in western hemisphere. It had distinct government system that wanted to promote education among all whites. In 1865, the end of civil war, which lasted for four prolonged dreaded years, brought emancipation from slavery to black population allowing black people to attend schools and gain public knowledge. It is different story with American Indians, however, people who had lived on this continent for several millenniums developing its own systems of education necessary for survival. Once white people “discovered New World” they strived to convert Indian nations to European standards of living continuing to present days. One way American government perceived to convert or to change Indians is by acquiring rights to their children through schooling, which was located off of Indian reservations. The word was civilization. Europe and America considered their societies civilized up to times; Indian tribes on reservations, on the other hand, were viewed as savage nations. European nations who began to populate North America and early Government of this country differed in culture and ways of living from Indians, simply considered these nations less civilized. White nation emigrating from Europe, conquering the continent, forming government of the U.S., and considering themselves as great philanthropists, sought how to civilize local population to adopt ways of white culture. The idea of civilization embodied the minds of legislators of this country who stated that “the progress of conversion was inevitable and desirable, for civilization, especially Christian civilization, which gave expression to man’s noblest sentiments,” according to David Wallace (Wallace 13). The commencement of education was initiated when the first settlers, after establishing small towns along the east coast of the colonial America, perceived and sought ways to teach local population to acquire white culture. Both cultures differed greatly in economic, social, and political structures as well as religions, but the new comers did not want to consider these facts and, rather, proceeded with conversion. European nations exerted differing approaches to and influences upon the Native Americans. For instance, the Franciscans, mainly Spanish origin, entered the south, influencing the peoples of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and California. The policy of the Franciscans was to gather the native peoples into villages around missions. The schools, while teaching Spanish, did not emphasize the academic subjects, placing greater stress upon agriculture, carpentry, blacksmith work, masonry, spinning, and weaving( to living on this earth 2). King James, who sent his settlers to the shores of North America, established Darmouth for the purpose to educate local Indians of white man’s ways. Later, after American Revolution and formation of the U.S. government, education was influenced by the great religious awakening which took place in the new nation in early 1800s. In 1819, congress, at the request of President Monroe, passed an act which apportioned funds among those societies and individuals that had been prominent in the effort to “civilize” the Indians(5). After massive removal of almost all Indian tribes from east coast, ordered and carried out by President Jackson who signed Indian Removal Act of 1830, attention toward Indians cooled off especially with the Civil War and its recovery. However, with the western expansion, government began to investigate Indian issues and oppress the natives. As a result, some reservation schools emerged in early 1870 and were placed right on the reservation being under strict supervision of agent in charge In 1882 several reformers went west to explore situation in tribes, and as soon as they came back from journey, firmly proposed two conclusions: first, educational reform is needed in order for Indians to assimilate into mainstream of American life; and second; firm reaction and will for government to implement the first.
|
