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
> 
> 
>