The First Chapter of this book as I began my journey reading was the Founding of the Institution. Congress appropriated money for the education of Native students at the three off reservation boarding schools in existence at the time. Funding for two new boarding schools was included. Dudley Chase Haskell was a representative from the Second Congressional District in Kansas and chairman of the House of Committee on Indian Affairs. He advocated for one of the schools to be located in his hometown. The government basically said that he could if he could get the city to donate land. That’s exactly what he did. The city of Lawrence raised almost $10,000 which was used to purchase a 280 acre plot of land southeast of town. By 1884 it took two years of planning and building the buildings for school. There would be three buildings; school building, boys and girls dormitory. The generic name for the school was originally called The United States Indian Industrial Training School then eventually recognized as the Haskell Institute.
I found appealing was the over turn of the Haskell Superintendents. Between the years of 1884 to about 1900 there were seven superintendents. They were either were forced out, retired, resigned and a couple did stay there for awhile.
Haskell starting off was found as a grammar school grade level of one through five. The school focused on English speaking skills. Three and one half hours of each weekday were devoted to formal instruction and four hours were spent on industrial training, such as cooking, sewing, carpentry, masonry and farming. Later on the school would be revised to include kindergarten, department for teacher training, commercial department, ten other grade levels. The departments would eventually discontinue and the school would be accredited as a high school by the State of Kansas. The last high school class graduated in 1965. In 1970 the school's name was changed to Haskell Indian Junior College. Once again in 1993 the name of the school would change to Haskell Indian Nations University and began offering baccalaureate programs in 1994.
This school that started off from five grade levels to now a University under went so many changes fast, in the first two decades. What started off as a 280 acre plot of land in 1884 and accumulated to 650 acre plot of land in 1901 is
astounding. I choose this book because I have little knowlege about the Haskell Institute. Learing the origin of the Haskell Institute I am eager to read the stories, journeys, and experiences the students went through attending this school.
Picture from http://www.amazon.com/
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Haskell Institute: 19th Century Stories of Sacrifice and Survival
Posted by Shyanne Schmalz at 1:25 PM
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5 comments:
Shyanne,
I really enjoyed the history that you presented regarding the creation of the Haskell Indian Boarding School. You provided the reader with a detailed description on how the government set aside monies to support education for Native students. Reading that the town itself raised the money to purchase the land in which the site really pushes my assumption that boarding schools were placed in locations far from the larger population.
The curriculum, like the school’s superintendents, was in constant change. I’m curious about the educational backgrounds of the teachers that taught in these boarding schools. Did they hold a degree? Were they primarily male/female? What materials did they use to implement the evolving curriculum? I do hope that you book provides you with such answers. I look forward to your future posts!
Thanks!
The fact that this man convinced the town to donate the land or then raised the money is astounding! All the more reason for the town to take great pride and maybe put forth the effort to keep this institution alive. My brother attended Haskell Indian College for a semester, however, I did not take the opportunity to scope out the campus. I will put that on my "to-do" list..it does seem to be a very popular junior college attended by several of my buddies from high school-all the more reason to give the place a visit.
Shy,
I enjoyed reading the history behind Haskell University. Like yourself, I also didn't know too much about Haskell and only knew of a few people who did attend the college. To learn about strong-minded, dedicated and successfull well-educated, inspiring individuals almost serves as energetic fuel for me. To read of such a man who was determined to build a school in his hometown, and also to achieve this goal is...like Memoree said, "Astounding"! I look forward to reading your next blog sharing your knowledge on the Haskell University.
I found it very interesting how many different changes the school had to endure, everything from first getting enough land to continuously changing superintendents! I'm curious to know why the school stopped its programs for the lower grades and became primarily a college.
It's been awesome listening to all the history of the Haskell Institute. My grandpa attended Haskell and played sport there as a young man. He also went on to graduate. Dakota also attended Haskell so I do feel a connection with the history. Maybe we should run the idea of a field trip to Lisa and Leah *hint,hint*
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