Letter of Thomas L. McKenny

Native Americans: Deculturalization, schooling, and Globalization.

I am going to choose the character of Thomas L. McKenny.

For many years I have been trying to culturally transform the schooling of Native Americans. I feel that the creation of tribal school systems operated by white missionary teacher would culturally transform Native Americans in one generation. I strongly feel that this is the key. I have been trying to pass the Civilization Fund Act and have succeeded, this act will provide money to help support schools amoung Indian tribes. A downfall to my efforts to support this act is, I have negelected to consider that some tribal members may resent this attempt for cultural transformation. My hopes in introducting this act is that Native American children will be instructed in reading, writing, and arithmetic. Through my efforts the government has agreed to provide $10,000 dollars to be used to fund the formation of these schools. I feel it is necessary that these indian schools be distributed thought the country, were it will be equal for all children to be instructed in reading, writing and arithmetic, mechanics and the arts. I hope my efforts will aid in the improvment of deculturazation and assist in the development of these Indian children.
Thomas L. McKenny

I thought this was a very interesting reading and beneficial to me in learning how education got brought up into some cultures such as Native Americans.