Native American Education Research Paper

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The Indian Reform program was an initiative by the United States citizens to reform previous policies put in place by the government regarding Native Americans. These policies placed Native Americans onto reservations in the west. Reformers believed there was a corrupt service in the government that was dealing with the Native Americans. Many citizens were sympathetic towards the cause and urged for change. Most believed change needed to come by assimilation of the Native Americans, specifically being that of breaking up reservations and educating them. One representative of the Board of Indian Commissioners, Merrill Gates, offered a resolution to the issue at hand. His proposal was to separate the tribes and impose law upon the Native Americans. …show more content…

In source 7, Lyman Abbott states in his proposal for a solution to the education issue, that no solution has been offered “for converting them from groups of tramps, beggars, thieves, and sometimes robbers and murderers, into communities of intelligent, industrious, and self-supporting citizens.” Many personnel on various Native American affairs boards believed that Native American adolescents should be taught the same material as American youth, so that they may be ready to be introduced into American society as an adult, along with being able to become a citizen. Army officer Captain Richard Pratt began education Native American youth after witnessing the education of Native American prisoners. Pratt saw many similarities between that of the treatment of Native Americans and of African Americans. In his account, he speaks on behalf of African Americans and their journey to citizenship by stating that schools are not to be awarded for developing citizens. Instead “denied the right of schools, they became English-speaking and industrious through the influence of association” (source 9). He believed the best way to promote growth of the Native Americans into American society, was not to keep them sheltered on reservations, but instead to promote their integration into schools and

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