Chapter 2 "The Fines' School on Earth"

In October, I went to a powwow in San Bernardino, California and I had seen a lady with these swastika-like signs beaded on her outfit.  This made me curious because I wanted to know the meaning of it.  When I got home I googled it and this picture popped up (above).  I was surprised to see this indian basketball team wearing this symbol also.  Little did I know that this picture took place at a boarding school that I would be reading about!  I had read that the swastika-like symbol was a sign of good luck or well being among some indian tribes.  I am not sure why Chilloco chose this design but it would be interesting to find out.  I had to find this picture when I read about the basketball team.  I wonder if this was the team that was involved in the car accident in which Superintendent Correll pressed the commissioner of Indian Affairs to compensate the athletes involved in the tragic accident.  It was unfortunate that two people were killed and others injured.  At least Superintendent  Correll's pressure paid off because the Office of Indian Affairs ended up paying an educational grant to one student to attend college and also a 3-4 hundred dollar stipend per year for anothers schooling.  It was interesting to see the different stories about Superintendent Correll and how dedicated he was to the school.  Overall the students thought he was fair and really cared but of course there were some students that didn't think so.  It was also fascinating to read how some didn't like boarding school and how some liked it and thought it was good for them.  I wonder how long it took these people to reflect or come to the realization that this was good for them and paid off in the long run.  It seems like alot of the boarding school students felt this way.  As I am reading the book I am trying to picture what these students were thinking and how they felt and it is not what I expected.  I was expecting to read some really sad stories (even though there were a couple already) and I am sure that there are some but I guess I have yet to read.  Another strange thing is that although I do not agree with how the boarding schools came to be and how they took children from homes to assimilate them, I am somewhat understanding the thinking of these 'head honchos'.  Maybe it's because these stories are shared on such a personal basis and give the people in charge actual personalities.  I am not sure: time to read on.

They Called It Prairie Light

The first thing I thought about is the title, as I usually do for every movie or book.  I wondered why this book is called that.  I really liked the description I found on the first page of how the title came to be: "In the evening, light shone through the tall windows across a prairie unblemished by hedgerows or trees...The light on the prairie was ready for its first class'. 

It is hard to picture what the parents went through, being persuaded to give up their children to the care of the government.  I tried to picture myself, not speaking English and being approached by an interpreter or someone that would tell me my child would be better off learning the 'civilized' way.  How could this make sense at all to them?  I have a 7 year old girl and a 9 year old boy (also a 3 year old son) and I cannot imagine how they would be traveling on a wagon for days to arrive at a school where they would have to cut their hair, and not be able to speak their language.  I cannot picture my daughter learning a trade such as sewing and cooking at such a young age, or my son having to tend his own garden everyday. (letting them experiment a bit now is just enough) It was a good thing that the Meriam Report findings changed this a bit.  Even though, Im sure all boarding schools didn't adhere to the new rules.

I also thought of my uncle, who talked about attending boarding school before, but I cannot remember which one.  He told of how they had a strict schedule and the day consisted mostly of chores and praying.  The women would do most of the cleaning and washing dishes and clothes and the men would also clean byt would do a trade, such as building projects out of wood.  There was harsh punishment when they were caught doing something wrong.  Sometimes they would sneak in candy and if they got caught they would get swapped with a 'switch' or a ruler to the hands.  It seems to me that he mentioned missionaries as the instructors.  This makes me want to find out more about his experience.  I know some people find it quite hard to talk about this.  I had to interview an elder for a different class awhile ago and it was hard for her to speak about it, which is understandable considering everything they may have went through. 

In the book, I was surprised to see that some of them counted their years away at school among the happiest and most carefree of there lives.  This makes me curious and I cannot wait to read more of their actual stories.