With that said, however, I do not feel that Robert was able to deliver a
analytical view of the Indian Mission Boarding Schools. He seemed unable to
distance himself from his pain in order to deliver a larger view of the system
than that of his own horrible experience. Often times entire systems are
thought to be worthless because we hear of a painfull experience one
individual has had with that system.
I would only like to hear whether that is or is not the case in this
situation.
Again, let me restate that Ihave never felt the sting of discrimination. I
think what happened to Robert Big Elk is a disgrace. Three year old children
should not be taken from their homes, told that their parents had died and
forced to go to boarding school.
What I would have liked to have heard was some tales from others that also
were also involved with the Indian Boarding Schools. Were most former
students worse off because of their involvement with the schools? Was the
problem system wide or was it the Omaha School that fared so poorly? Did
Robert Big Elk's classmates adjust as poorly to the outside world as he?
It seemed to me that his continued pain and resentment stood in the way of
Robert Big Elk to ask and anwer these questions. Although I suppose that this
speaks volumes about the Omaha Indian Boarding School and its administration.
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