20th century Phoenix Indian School

little girls praying beside beds in pis dormitory, june 1900

a mission revival style auditorium designed in 1901 , constructed next year. increasing enrollment made clear administrators dining hall needed, design modifications turn auditorium 1 performed in 1903 , kitchen built in 1904. dining hall oldest extant building on pis campus.

1902 brought new superintendent, charles goodman. inherited stable school 56 employees (12 of teachers) , 24-building campus surrounded 240 acres (97 ha) of farm land. series of major events took place in tenure (which lasted until 1915), including major tuberculosis outbreak, goodman s time superintendent characterized first real progress in graduating students. 1915, total of 175 students had received diplomas pis – none had done before 1901. under 5 percent of student body, proved federal perspective assimilation occurring.

during time period in pis s history, various techniques used attempt better assimilation – new students organized military companies, given uniform , work clothes, , marched , classes after starting @ 5am.

serving in world war i

the war memorial

john b. brown became superintendent in 1915. assimilation continued make progress, reflected in native american participation in military. male students receptive military service after being regimented @ school. in 1912, arizona formed company f in state national guard, first all-indian unit in nation, composed of older pis students , former students. despite not being citizens, many students , alumni volunteered fight in world war i. within 4 months of president woodrow wilson s declaration of war on germany in april 1917, 64 pis students , alumni volunteered serve in army , navy. upon returning border duty near naco, company f became part of 158th infantry regiment, fortieth division. distinguished combat helped change attitudes in washington native americans, leading indian citizenship act being signed law on june 2, 1924.

in direct response successful assimilation, federal government authorized construction of memorial hall , war memorial in 1922. mission revival style structure built $50,000, , students provided of labor. replaced original auditorium – dining hall. memorial hall saw use general assemblies, graduations, , theatrical productions. war memorial, south, commemorated founding of school , service of students.

assimilation fades

though superintendent brown committed assimilation, environment began change in 1920s. after 1915, indian schools began face troubles, such overcrowding , budget cuts. discipline problems increased, , quality of student health care @ indian schools nationwide declined. in response these issues, reform movement began in 1920s led john collier.

eventually, in 1928, problem of indian administration (the meriam report) published. w. carson ryan s section on education criticized indian education in united states, non-reservation schools. called end assimilation.

at pis, superintendent brown, career indian service educator, held ground. sought ameliorate school s image reforming outing system, 1920 had become different. pis students worked on weekends , during summer, , of people sent out non-students. brown sought enhance this, , in 1922, declared school responsible native american employment in phoenix.

in 1929, assimilationist indian commissioner charles h. burke resigned under pressure reformers. replaced charles j. rhoads, committed enacting reforms of meriam report. rhoads , collier began have disputes; collier s reformers felt rhoads moving methodically. rhoads issued circular number 2556 in 1930 allowing forms of punishment @ indian schools maintain order. disputes came head; collier found action backwards step , challenged rhoads bringing information concerning brutality @ pis forefront.

in may 1930, senate subcommittee on indian affairs held meeting on allegations. collier argued pis not guilty of brutal treatment of mismanagement well. charges never proven, , there never definitive conclusion, hearing helped bring changes, such appointment of w. carson ryan director of indian education in september 1930. reorganization of indian service followed allowed meriam report reformers ascend top posts in education bureau.

brown remained @ pis, days numbered damage sustained reputation. in april 1931, subcommittee held additional hearings in arizona conditions @ pis. brown lost remaining support , retired in july 1931.

at critical juncture, grammar school building, built in understated moderne style, constructed.