Explain how U.S. policy toward Native American education may be seen as part of a larger cultural, social, and economic conflict between Native Americans and the dominant white culture.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Answer is U.S. policy toward Native American education has historically been a tool for assimilation and acculturation into the dominant white culture. From the late 19th century through the mid-20th century, the U.S. government operated boarding schools that aimed to "kill the Indian, and save the man" by forcibly removing Native American children from their families and communities, and erasing their cultural and linguistic identities.

This policy was part of a larger cultural, social, and economic conflict between Native Americans and the dominant white culture, as it sought to disrupt traditional Native American ways of life and force assimilation into mainstream American society. The dominant white culture viewed Native American cultural practices, languages, and beliefs as inferior and sought to replace them with Eurocentric norms and values.

Furthermore, U.S. policy toward Native American education has also been influenced by economic interests, as the government aimed to "civilize" Native Americans in order to facilitate the takeover of their lands and resources. By undermining traditional Native American cultures and education systems, the U.S. government sought to weaken the collective identity and resistance of Native American communities, making it easier to exploit their lands and resources for economic gain.

In this way, U.S. policy toward Native American education can be seen as a tool of cultural, social, and economic domination, perpetuating a longstanding conflict between Native Americans and the dominant white culture. This history of forced assimilation and cultural erasure continues to impact Native American communities today, as they continue to fight for the preservation of their cultural identities and educational sovereignty.

Explain How U