Why were Native American children punished for speaking their own language at christian mission schools during?
Many answerers have talked about assimilation but it was far worse than that. Acculturation is the biggest crime ever committed against Native Americans. Genocide is horrible, but its effect is quick death. Assimilation is cruel, creating prejudice and poverty in extreme proportions. The dead man knows no prejudice, no poverty. And the assimilated man may still hold onto his traditions, his culture, even if in the face of overwhelming adversity. But, the acculturated man is lost, having no tradition, no culture, and yet in many cases still experiences prejudice and poverty. Not only were students forbidden to speak their native language, but had their hair cut and had to dress like “whites”. You must remember it was believed that is was the “Manifest Destiny” of the European invaders that this was their continent to do what they pleased with. They thought they could drive our culture from our young people, and make good “whities” out of them. They wanted to make good Christians out of
