In the United States, November is National Native American Heritage Month. This should be an opportunity for schools to discuss the colonial history of their country. But the image that students receive is often sadly insufficient.

A study conducted by Pennsylvania State University between 2016 and 2018, 27 states did not name a single Native American on their list. history educational standards for schools. The study also found that 87% of program standards don’t mention Native American history after 1900 – a very partial picture.

The marginalization of Native American people and culture in the American education system has a long history. My Ph.D. research explores the exploitation and assimilation of Native Americans children were suffered in the 19th century.

In 1879, Pennsylvania’s first government boarding school school for Native American children, Carlisle Indian Industrial Schoolopened its doors. It was founded by Captain Richard Henry Pratta soldier who had fought for the United States Army against various tribes including the Comanche, Cheyenne, Arapaho and Kiowa.

Pratt developed his first ideas for educating Native Americans by imprisoning approximately 70 people in Florida during his military service. He invited local white Floridians to teach English to his prisonersand began to focus on the assimilation of Native Americans into white culture.

He became famous for philosophy “kill the Indian to save the man”. In Carlisle, Pratt implemented a model which took children away from their homes and their culture. He said:

“Transfer the child born in the wild into a civilized environment and he will grow up and possess civilized language and habits.”

He argued that by educating children, they would grow up and enter the job market. Carlisle’s Native American children were intentionally educated and prepared to serve the interests of white Americans. This is evident in “exit system“, which placed Native American children in the homes of local white families to perform manual labor. This often involved female students assuming domestic servitude as housewives and male students working as farm laborers.

The assimilation of Native American children began well before the 19th century. But Carlisle’s tiered model of isolation and subjugation systematized the process and led to the creation of other boarding schools.

A study by the US Department of the Interior found that more than 400 of these schools were operated by the United States federal government. Such schools existed until 1969.

The research also identified more than 50 burial sites of children who died in schools. THE interior department has recorded 500 deaths so far and recognizes that the number of unreported grave sites is likely to increase as investigation continues.

The whitewashing of education and exploitation of Native American children in boarding schools such as Carlisle left lasting effects on Native American communities.

Today, Native American children do much less well in school than their white peers. In 2021-22, white students had a high school graduation percentage of 90%. For Native American students, it was 74%. In the meantime, 20.3% of Native American families live below the poverty line, compared to 5.9% of white families.

Continued exclusion

Additionally, the education system continues to marginalize Native American communities.

In December 2021, Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis introduced the Stop waking upwhich prohibits teaching critical race theory— an academic field of study focused on racism in society — in schools.

This law illustrates a broader national trend that aims to minimize the teaching of uncomfortable truths about American history, particularly when it comes to the history of marginalized groups such as Native Americans. Banning critical race theory in schools limits teachers’ ability to discuss topics like systemic racism, which includes the weaponization of education against Native American children.

Ultimately, DeSantis’ approach deprives Native American students of a adequate education about their ancestral history and deprives all students of a more honest understanding of American history.

However, states like Illinois have made great strides toward more equal education thanks to recent legislation. On August 4, 2023, Illinois Governor JB Pritkzer, alongside the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, signed a law which requires the teaching of Native American history in Illinois public schools. This illustrates how inclusive curriculum methods can not only recognize past injustices, but also pave the way for reconciliation and healing from colonial trauma.

THE the law specifies this includes teaching about the genocide and forced relocation of Native Americans by settlers as well as the history of the tribes.

When efforts are made to shed light on overlooked moments, such as that of mistreatment of marginalized groups such as Native American communities, the disadvantages they face can be recognized and corrected.

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