Richard Henry Pratt

Definition

Richard Henry Pratt was a U.S. Army officer and educator best known for founding the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania in 1879, which served as a model for many other Indian boarding schools, including those in California. His motto, 'Kill the Indian, Save the Man,' reflected his belief in assimilating Native American children into Euro-American culture, which profoundly impacted the educational policies for California Indians and contributed to their cultural dislocation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Pratt believed that education was the key to assimilating Native Americans into mainstream society, and he advocated for a curriculum that included vocational training.
2. The Carlisle Indian Industrial School became infamous for its harsh disciplinary methods and efforts to suppress Native American languages and cultures.
3. Pratt's ideas on assimilation were part of a larger federal policy aimed at controlling Native American populations and erasing their distinct identities.
4. California Indian boarding schools modeled after Carlisle adopted similar practices, leading to significant cultural loss among Native American communities in California.
5. Many former students of boarding schools like those inspired by Pratt reported experiences of trauma, loss of cultural heritage, and familial disconnection.

Review Questions

• How did Richard Henry Pratt's approach to education reflect broader federal policies towards Native Americans during his time?
  • Richard Henry Pratt's approach to education was deeply intertwined with the federal government's policy of assimilation. His establishment of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School epitomized the effort to educate Native American children in ways that sought to erase their cultural identities and promote Euro-American values. This mirrored broader policies aimed at controlling Native populations through forced assimilation, thereby diminishing their cultural practices and social structures.
• Evaluate the impact of Richard Henry Pratt's educational philosophies on California Indian boarding schools.
  • Pratt's educational philosophies had a significant impact on California Indian boarding schools, as they adopted his model of assimilation. These schools implemented strict disciplinary measures, discouraged the use of Native languages, and focused on vocational training. The legacy of Pratt's methods left a lasting mark on California Indian communities, leading to cultural dislocation and loss of identity as students were often separated from their families and communities.
• Analyze how Richard Henry Pratt's motto 'Kill the Indian, Save the Man' encapsulates the complexities of U.S. policies towards Native Americans in the 19th century.
  • Pratt's motto 'Kill the Indian, Save the Man' reflects the paradox of U.S. policies that aimed to eradicate Indigenous cultures while simultaneously promoting the idea of citizenship and integration into American society. This philosophy highlights a fundamental misunderstanding of Indigenous identities and rights, framing cultural erasure as a necessary step for progress. The complexities inherent in this approach reveal the deep tensions between imperialist ambitions and the realities of diverse Indigenous lives, making it a crucial point of study when considering historical injustices faced by Native Americans.

Related terms

Carlisle Indian Industrial School: The first off-reservation boarding school for Native Americans, established by Pratt to educate and assimilate Native American children into mainstream American culture.

Assimilation: The process by which individuals or groups from one culture adopt the customs and attitudes of another culture, often at the expense of their own identity.

Indian Boarding Schools: Institutions established in the late 19th and early 20th centuries designed to educate Native American children and forcibly assimilate them into Euro-American culture.