A Study On American Indian Education Policy (1940s-1960s)

As the native people of United States, the history of the Indians is very rough.Their fate is completely mastered by the whitey and their social status can be fully expressed through their history of education. Before 1930 s, the federal government attempted to assimilate the Indians totally through short-dated and fleet policies. “The New Deal of Indian” in the thirties lead the Indians' education to the new direction of self-government. Under the effect of Second War, the Indians' education policy have some short-dated reverse, but it finally comes close to self-government. The article mainly study the background?content and the factor of the Indians' education policy made during and after the Second War. Then thoroughly analyze the slewability of education policy?the change of Indians' social status and the increase of national self-determination consciousness.The first chapter focuses on the review of federal government Indians education policy before 1940 s. The Indians education policy before 1940 s mainly divides into three periods: Federal government assimilate the Indians in a civilized way as a equal partner in the new years of the nation; “The forced assimilation” in the late nineteenth century fully ignores the Indians culture's self-development, “The New Deal” leaded by John Collier in 1930 s in respecting the Indian culture. The policies made in different periods embody the instability of the Indians education policy to some extent.The politics is the symbol to make education policy for the federal government. In a word, although the Indians education policy before 1940 s have some turns, the global direction before the forties tend to self-government, the Indians education makes great achievement gradually.The second chapter introduces federal government's short-dated reverse on the Indians education under the influence of Second War from forties to fifties. The happening of Second War makes the progressing “New Deal” stop to give in the war.When the war ends, the Indians education doesn't develop to the direction as theprewar and get into the previous assimilation again. The Indians don't keep silent any more, instead, they contend bravely and their national self-determination consciousness have a great increase.The third chapter make an overview on the federal government Indians education policy in 1960 s. The civil rights movement in sixties appears the national discrimination fully. National minority fight with the government firmly for their legal rights. As the chronic victim, Indians join in the army. Finally self-determination becomes the leading trend of Indians education after the short-dated reverse. The Indians have the power to decide their own education.The fourth chapter focuses on the study of the federal government Indians education policy in 1940s-1960 s. As the supplement for the politics, education reflect the trend of political policy. The Indians begin to learn fighting to achieve the respect and development after some changes of education policy. The Indians education policy between forties and sixties finally develops toward the self-determination of education, which lays the theme of the later Indians education.