Kevin,
Thank you for this insight regarding the Indian Schools. I have a letter 
written by the headmaster of the College of William & Mary. He is not 
writing to the Indian Chiefs, but he is referring to them. He was basically 
making a statement of how he could get the Indian Chiefs to send their sons 
to the school. I believe Reverend Rodham Kenner was the Headmaster mentioned 
in my document (which I do not have in front of me). It appears that the 
Kenners had a missionary school near Spotsylvania County as well.  I am 
researching the Kenners because they showed up on my Lewis lines out of King 
George & Spotsylvania County.

Anita


>From: Kevin Joel Berland <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history         
>      <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Indian Schools
>Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 20:46:56 -0400
>
>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
> >
> >
> >

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