I conducted research about Fort Christanna for my colleague at the time,
and participated in two of the three archaeological excavations there,
which were directed by Chris Stevenson of the Department of Historic
Resources in Richmond. My research revealed that the school was known to
be the finest and largest school ever built, and contained as many as
300 Indian children at one time. Rev. Charles Griffin was indeed a much
beloved teacher there. The fort was a combination of a fur-trading post
and school, and the Saponi helped protect the fort along with the
English. Chris has made a report about Fort Christanna, which you might
find of interest.

Another Indian school  besides the one in William and Mary is Dartmouth
College, Hanover, N.H.  It started out also as an educational
institution for Indians and still accepts Indian students.  The weather
vane of the college, if  I recall correctly, was that of an instructor
and an Indian. (And neither of these schools exhibited what you
mentioned about Carlisle.)

-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kevin Joel Berland
Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 8:47 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Indian Schools

According several (Anglo-Virginian)accounts, the school at Christanna
among the Saponi was probably a relatively pleasant experience, if only
because the teacher, Rev. Charles Griffin, I believe, was well-loved by
the students and community.  The Indian school at William and Mary was
different, even though Griffin eventually taught there as well.  It was
one of the principal recipients of the philanthropic legacy of the
scientist Robert Boyle (largely through the intervention of Commissary
Blair).  In one sense the placement of children in this school had a
diplomatic purpose: part of the agreement with "Tributary Indians."
Ostensibly the Anglo-Virginians were offering the Indians the best
things on offer: education in the Christian religion and English
culture.  Another way of looking at the arrangement would be to view the
children as diplomatic hostages, although the nations whose children
went to the W&M school were allied with, not antagonistic to, the
Anglo-Virginian community.

In the colonial times, it would have been impossible for legislators and
educators to think of the Indians as anything else but heathens and
savages. 
Whether this meant that the young men were treated badly does not
necessarily follow.  Indeed, considering the diplomatic ramifications,
it would have been stupid to treat them badly.  I haven't yet come
across any first-hand accounts, either from students or teachers, though
there may well be some material out there.

It may be interesting to note that William Byrd II observed with some
regret that the education did not stick.  As soon as the young men
returned to their people, they nearly always reverted to traditional
ways.

Later schools, however, under the assimilationist philosophy, were
scandalously cruel, contemptuous, and deracinating. The Indian School at
Carlisle, Pennsylvania, was a notorious example.  And at some point in
the late 19th or early 20th century the government delegated the job of
educating Indian children to Roman Catholic and protestant missionary
groups. Their mission was to strip the children of their language,
customs, religious beliefs, and connections with their families.  One
excellent fictional account of this process is Oliver LaFarge's _Slayer
of Enemy Gods_, and another is W. Scott Momaday's House Made of Dawn
(both tell of the struggle of "educated" Indians to recover their
traditional life.

Cheers -- Kevin Joel Berland



On Sat, 12 May 2007 11:28:11 -0700  Discussion of research and writing
about
Virginia history             
<[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> 
> I would like to have an open dialogue about Mission Schools, operated 
> by the Catholic and Episcopalian Churches. I have several documents 
> stating that the male children of Chiefs were to be sent to these 
> schools to civilize them. One of the documents mentions an Indian 
> School located at the College of William and Mary.  I can only imagine

> how they were treated once they arrived there, especially since they 
> were considered to be heathens and savages.
> 
> Anita
> 
> 
>