25 Jan 1841 Jahr - Residential Schools

Beschreibung:

Both the federal government and Plains Nations desired for aboriginal education, however, their reasons for desiring these things contrasted sharply. Indigenous leaders wanted their children to receive education in order for them to adapt to the rapidly changing world, and gain skills that would allow them to make a swift and smooth transition into a world dominated by strangers. The federal government pursued schooling as a means of making the First Nations economically self sufficient, not in order to improve their quality of life, but rather to lessen the dependence of the taxpayer dime. The government collaborated with christian mercenaries to encourage indigenous self sufficiency. Later, educational policy emerged that promoted religious conversion. These were not the schools the aboriginal leaders had envisioned.

Although some students left with happy memories, these stories are few and far between. The vast majority report having traumatic experiences. The meals were poor in quality and quantity, the clothes were shappy, ill fitting, and in the case of the winter, did not provide adequate protection for the season. Teachers were unprepared and unfamiliar with the curriculum. Lessons were taught in French and English, languages that the children did not speak, students were isolated, their culture disparaged, often times separated from their siblings. While some of the staff attempted to be good teachers and parental surrogates, the institutional setting and immense workload defeated even the best of intentions. Impatience gave way to harsh punishment, including physical abuse. Some of the staff were sexual predators, and many of the students were sexually assaulted.

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