Final answer:
The purpose of Indian boarding schools, such as those described in "The School Days of an Indian Girl," was to assimilate Native American children into white society by erasing their languages and cultures. These schools prepared students for low-wage labor, stripping them of their cultural heritage, which has been widely acknowledged as a historical injustice with long-lasting negative impacts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Purpose of the Indian Boarding Schools
The narrative of "The School Days of an Indian Girl" and the historical context of Indian boarding schools reflect a period in American history where there was a systematic effort to assimilate Native American children into Euro-American culture. This was pursued through an education system that was both paternalistic and coercive. The text suggests that the main purpose of these schools was to erase Indigenous cultures and languages, and to inculcate the values of the dominant white society in Native American children.
These schools, supported by the federal government and certain reformers, enforced English-only policies, military discipline, and vocational training that ultimately prepared students for low-paying manual labor jobs, rather than offering them a comprehensive education. Such policies were enacted under the belief that Native traditions were inferior and needed to be discarded in order to 'civilize' Native peoples, summarized by the infamous phrase to "kill the Indian and save the man".
Finding common ground on the impact of these schools is challenging, as perspectives may vary widely. Nonetheless, most can agree that this form of education caused a significant loss of cultural heritage and had long-lasting negative effects on Native communities. Discussions around this topic can encourage deeper understanding and reconciliation through acknowledging the historical injustices suffered by Indigenous peoples, and work towards advancing social and racial justice.