Читать книгу Lost Worlds of 1863. Relocation and Removal of American Indians in the Central Rockies and the Greater Southwest онлайн

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The major difference between Sarah’s school and the reservation and off-reservation schools at the time was that it was an institution established by Paiutes for Paiutes. It was not simply a passive receptor of white values and prejudices. For example, the native language was used to learn to speak English, and then the Numic speech aided in learning how to read and write English. Unlike the government schools, students were not whipped for speaking their native tongue. No effort was made to separate the children from their parents. In fact, students were urged to use their language skills, arithmetic, and industrial training to educate their parents. By 1887 over 400 children had applied to Sarah’s boarding school. The school appeared to be thriving.²⁹

However, by late summer 1886 the “model school” was beginning to encounter financial problems. The charitable contributions from Boston benefactors started to dry up. Then Natches faced several monetary crises from mortgage costs to dishonest ranch hands.³⁰