The Junk Drawer

Memories of the Indian School by fleur_de_lis

Our local paper received a series of letters some time back from a gentleman that spent his childhood here in my hometown. He had an Indian brother by the name of Sidney Byrd who attended the Indian School and wrote to him of his experiences there. The following is an excerpt from one of those letters. I left my reservation home, family, loved ones, friends and familiar surroundings at the tender age of six and remained away, initially, for three long, lonely years. During this period, I was also the smallest boy on the campus of the Indian School. You can imagine my position when the inevitable pecking order was established among the ranks. I can tell you for sure, it wasn't No. 1, nor would it ever be. In those days, when you applied for enrollment, you signed up for three-year hitches, just like in the U.S. Army. After completing my first three-year stint, my dear grandfather made arrangements for me to return home every summer, at his expense, although he could ill afford to do...

Indian School Repost by fleur_de_lis

I spent part of my weekend 'docenting' at the Indian School in my little town, and whenever I do I immerse myself in the history of 100+ years ago. I am reposting one of my old pieces, because I want to include a story from one of the former students. Kill the Indian--Save the Child Each little town/city has it's own unique story or history and my little place is no different from the rest. Just a few short blocks from where I live is the U.S. Indian School. In the late 1800's the federal government began an educational experiment designed to get the Indian child off the reservation and educate him to fit into white society. They set up a series of Indian boarding schools across the nation and one of them was located here in my town. The purpose of these boarding schools was to 'kill the Indian, save the child' and they used what could be called brain washing techniques to do so. Our school at it's height took in children from the ages of 4 and up, from over...

'Kill the Indian--Save the Child' by fleur_de_lis

Each little town/city has it's own unique story or history and my little place is no different from the rest. Just a few short blocks from where I live is the U.S. Indian School. In the late 1800's the federal government began an educational experiment designed to get the Indian child off the reservation and educate him to fit into white society. They set up a series of Indian boarding schools across the nation and one of them was located here in my town. The purpose of these boarding schools was to 'kill the Indian, save the child' and they used what could be called brain washing techniques to do so. Our school at it's height took in children from the ages of 4 and up, from over 20 tribes and 10 states to educate them in the white man's way. It had up to 599 students, more than 30 buildings on 640 acres of land, and was completely self sufficient. Today, little of the school remains. One building has been restored, and a handful of others are in private hands....