Final answer:
The Carlisle Indian Industrial School was aimed at forced assimilation of Native American children into white culture, focusing on English language proficiency and vocational training, while eradicating native languages and cultural practices. This part of a systemic effort was critically viewed over time, leading to changes in approach towards Native American education.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, established in 1879 by Richard Pratt in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, was to assimilate Native American children into Euro-American culture. This was done through a process that aimed to eradicate their native languages, cultural practices, and social traditions. The school was part of a broader government effort to forcibly remove children from their families and communities to facilitate indoctrination into the values and norms of white society. Academics were paired with vocational and industrial training, reflecting the belief that Native Americans should adopt Euro-American ways of life and work.
Such institutions were widespread during the period, with approximately 100 boarding schools in operation, emphasizing the speaking of English language only and adhering to strict disciplinary schedules, modeled after military schools. Within this educational system, harsh policies included the prohibition of native languages, modification of personal appearance to reflect white norms, and the imposition of Christian beliefs. Over time, the system faced significant criticism for its substandard living conditions, poor educational quality, and the psychological and cultural damage inflicted upon the students, leading to a gradual shift away from these assimilation policies and the implementation of less coercive forms of education.
A notable legacy of this era is Haskell Indian Nations University, which evolved from the United States Indian Industrial Training School in Lawrence, Kansas, indicating a transformation from assimilation-focused institutions to educational facilities that embrace and support Native American identity and culture.