In this chapter it began by talking about how families were having a hard time sending their children away from their home to go to boarding schools, and also that children did not want to attend all white schools. At this time that the Rapid City boarding school was opened was about 20 years after the doors of Carlisle Boarding school had opened. So at this time the stories of abuse, homesickness and malnutrition were coming back to the parents and the parents had a hard time sending their children away to be treated this way. When parents became reluctant to send their children away the reservation agents started withholding rations form the resisting families.
When the doors finally did open on September 20, 1898 it had a total enrollment of 100 students. A main reason for the enrollment and parental consent was the generosity of Superintendent Sam B. Davis who would pay parents generous travel allowances for anyone who brought their child to the school. One great thing that Rapid City did allow was that the school allowed families to stay together, at that time the boarding school would only educate children who were of fourth grade education and up. However, when boarding schools such as Chamberlain and Pierre began to shut down the families would not send them there unless the brothers and sisters were able to go to school together. So at that point Rapid City stated: “that no child under fourteen years of age may attend school here, unless he/she is accompanied by an older brother/sister also attending”. Eventually, the school was forced to take children of all ages by the parents. Ignoring a the structure of educatining older students, because if reservation schools did not provide the education that they needed then the Rapid City school must.
This school had a very frequent turnover rate in Superintendents. As a matter of fact the superintendent was from the day it opened in 1898 until 1933. At this time however Rapid City boarding school was a savior to a family in crisis. This school provided for more of a daycare than an actual school at times.
Tyson, I was struck by the connection you made between the boarding school experiences of those who attended Carlisle who later faced the decision of sending their own children to boarding schools with the negative memories lingering in their minds. It just seemed the government was so quick to take things away rather than finding more positive ways to encourage families to send their children to the schools. Although we have heard that many children who attended boarding schools enjoyed aspects of their education we know that not all share happy memories. I can’t imagine sending my child to a place where I felt belittled, shamed, and mistreated. I wonder, was it just plain common for teachers to be so verbally and physically abusive back then? My father tells me about his school years at a Catholic school and he was tormented by his teachers who were nuns. However, my dad was not striped of his traditions or language. He was not shamed because of heritage, nor punished for his spiritual/religious beliefs as those who were forcibly assimilated in boarding schools.
ReplyDeleteParents back then had no choice to send the children to boarding school if they were having a hard time at home. That must have been hard for the parents to have to send them away. If they didn’t send them then most likely the children didn’t eat. I bet it was easier for the children that had siblings to go to school. I know I would’ve got homesick if I were taken away from my family at a young age.
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that the superintendent would provide an allowance for families to travel to the school. To me, that shows that the school was eager to have a large amount of students...maybe for funding? Or maybe they were trying to "civilize" the children to their likings. It would be interesting to find out.
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