Carlisle Indian Industrial School

Definition

The Carlisle Indian Industrial School was an institution founded in 1879 in Pennsylvania, aimed at assimilating Native American students into Euro-American culture through education. It was the first federally funded Indian boarding school and set a precedent for similar institutions across the United States, reflecting broader themes of cultural assimilation and the education of minorities.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Carlisle Indian Industrial School was established by Captain Richard Henry Pratt, who famously stated, 'Kill the Indian, save the man,' emphasizing the goal of cultural assimilation.
2. The school focused on vocational training and academic education while enforcing strict discipline and prohibiting Native languages and cultural practices.
3. Over its 39 years of operation, the school enrolled more than 10,000 Native American students from various tribes across the U.S., many of whom faced significant trauma from separation from their families.
4. The legacy of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School is viewed critically today, as it represents a broader pattern of cultural suppression and loss experienced by Native communities.
5. The school closed in 1918 due to changing attitudes towards Native American education and growing awareness of the negative impacts of assimilation policies.

Review Questions

• How did the founding principles of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School reflect the societal attitudes towards Native Americans during its establishment?
  • The founding principles of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School were deeply rooted in a belief that Native Americans needed to abandon their cultures to be 'civilized.' This reflected the dominant societal attitude of the time, which viewed Indigenous peoples as inferior and in need of assimilation into Euro-American culture. The school's motto, 'Kill the Indian, save the man,' highlighted this perspective, aiming to transform Native American students into what the authorities considered acceptable members of society.
• In what ways did the curriculum and policies at Carlisle Indian Industrial School aim to enforce cultural assimilation among Native American students?
  • The curriculum at Carlisle Indian Industrial School was designed to enforce cultural assimilation through vocational training, English language instruction, and a focus on Euro-American values. Students were prohibited from speaking their native languages or practicing their cultural traditions, as strict discipline was imposed to suppress their identities. This approach aimed not just to educate but to fundamentally change students' perceptions of themselves and their heritage, reflecting a broader strategy for erasing Indigenous cultures.
• Evaluate the long-term impact of institutions like the Carlisle Indian Industrial School on Native American communities and their cultural identities.
  • Institutions like the Carlisle Indian Industrial School have had profound long-term impacts on Native American communities, contributing to generational trauma and a loss of cultural identity. The forced separation from families and suppression of languages resulted in disconnection from traditions and community bonds. Many former students struggled with identity issues throughout their lives due to these experiences. Moreover, this legacy has led to ongoing discussions about reparative justice and the importance of preserving Indigenous cultures and languages in contemporary society.

Related terms

Assimilation: The process by which individuals or groups from one culture adopt the customs and attitudes of another culture, often leading to the loss of their original identity.

Boarding School Era: A period in U.S. history during the late 19th and early 20th centuries when Native American children were forcibly taken from their families to attend boarding schools designed to promote assimilation.

Cultural Genocide: The systematic destruction of a group's culture, often through policies that aim to erase cultural practices, languages, and identities.