PPT 7

School & Society: Chapter 7

Diversity and Equity: Schooling and American Indians

Chapter Seven

Diversity and Equity: Schooling and American Indians

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School & Society: Chapter 7

Diversity and Equity: Schooling and American Indians

Pluralism vs. Assimilation Pluralism • Valuing and maintaining cultural differences within a society.

Assimilation • The process by which diverse cultures and their customs, habits and languages are absorbed into the dominant culture. 2

School & Society: Chapter 7

Diversity and Equity: Schooling and American Indians

“Trust Relationship” • Indians and whites in uneasy coexistence • Federal government as trustee of Indian rights • Economic value of partnership with Indians declines as nineteenth century progresses • Values of whites and Indians increasingly conflict • Indians as obstacles to “manifest destiny” 3

School & Society: Chapter 7

Diversity and Equity: Schooling and American Indians

The Social Education of Native Americans • Land allotment and boarding schools  meant to directly force Indians into assimilation through transfer of law and removal for schooling

• Scientific management and education reform  Merriam Report of 1928 documents failure of assimilation attempts and recommends progressive education incorporating Indian culture and values 4

School & Society: Chapter 7

Diversity and Equity: Schooling and American Indians

The Social Education of Native Americans John Collier’s influence  developed “cross-culture” approach to counter Indian resistance

Willard Walcott Beatty  emphasized need for Indians to accept their “role” as laborers  school as main vehicle of assimilation

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School & Society: Chapter 7

Diversity and Equity: Schooling and American Indians

Concluding Remarks • Ongoing tensions between liberal democratic ideology and Native American perspectives • What is the role of the dominant culture today in terms of responsibility to Native Americans? 6

School & Society: Chapter 7

Diversity and Equity: Schooling and American Indians

Developing your Professional Vocabulary • • • • •

assimilation boarding school Bureau of Ethnology Bureau of Indian Affairs Cherokee Nation v. Georgia • John Collier • community control

• • • • • • • •

cultural pluralism Dawes Allotment Act dominant culture Merriam Report scientific administration tribal self-determination Willard Walcott Beatty Worcester v. Georgia

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