1931.E2.80.941990: Phoenix Indian High School Phoenix Indian School

1 1931—1990: phoenix indian high school

1.1 new pis era
1.2 world war ii—going mainstream
1.3 closure

1931—1990: phoenix indian high school
new pis era

the indian school band building built in 1931

carl h. skinner succeeded john brown superintendent of phoenix indian school in 1931. had doctorate in education , no experience in indian service. under skinner , assistance of new indian bureau chief john collier, facility modernized; old guard faded away; , waste eliminated. 2 of first changes had of largest impact. military discipline no more; students did not have wear uniforms, , band no longer marched students dining hall. reservation day schools built, lower grades @ pis discontinued. brought enrollment down 950 in 1928 425 in 1936. here on out phoenix indian school served grades 7-12.

the 1930s pis curriculum emphasized vocational education, such masonry; carpentry; , painting. however, prevailing great depression reduced urban employment native americans. agricultural program expanded students wished return reservation.

world war ii—going mainstream

world war ii had indelible impact @ pis. native americans , pis students participated in war effort both @ home , abroad. many native americans volunteered or drafted, serving in branches of military in pacific , european theaters. students stayed home bought war bonds , participated in blood drives.

it world war ii , widespread rate of service brought native american illiteracy forefront. navajo ex-servicemen went washington in 1946 ask treaty obligations on education met. in 1947, special navajo program created, in navajo children attended 5 years of school receive 8th-grade education.

the snp led major growth @ pis. 200 navajo children enrolled in first year, , more students participated every year until 1958, when pis had 427 navajos , 600 regular students. time snp closed in 1963, several thousand students had taken part.

the major growth @ pis led overcrowding. there lack of space @ school, , many buildings dated 1890s , obsolete. in response, glenn lundeen, school s superintendent, asked bia review of campus in 1952. building plan adopted, , next 13 years, bia campus modernized. 8 new dormitories, administration building, materials center, 5 science lab classrooms, warehouse, , 9 home economics/vocational classrooms built part of construction blitz @ time.

the curriculum began change, between 1947 , 1965, federal government began termination policy centered on ending federal responsibility reservations. emphasis placed on integrating native americans mainstream america teaching native americans skills useful in city jobs. girls taught typing , cosmetology, , boys take new math , science classes. north central association, accredits high schools, accredited school in 1960. school became known phoenix indian high school. became member of arizona interscholastic association, governing body high school sports in arizona. earliest aia enrollment records phoenix indian school date 1967, when school had 885 students.

by time, area bounded central avenue, 7th street, indian school road, , camelback road home 4 high schools: catholic brophy college preparatory , xavier college preparatory, public central high school, , phoenix indian high school. in 1971, schools served 4,600 students combined, , in 1984, combined total of 5,000 students.

to closure

as united states changed in 1960s , 1970s, upheaval affected students @ pihs. students regained interest in native american identity, seen in growth of tribal clubs. @ same time, students , teachers began question how indian education emphasized skills useful in white culture. passage of indian self-determination , education assistance act of 1975, native americans have more of voice @ bia schools. self-determination trend showed non-reservation boarding schools expendable. of 1970s, enrollment @ pis declined stable number of 550 students, held through mid-1980s.

in 1982, indian bureau announced close indian school, delayed because hopi , papago tribes did not have own high schools. 1987, opening of hopi junior/senior high school in keams canyon , tohono o odham high school in sells, situation rectified. pis closed doors last time in spring of 1990. in final year, pis had 80 students, far cry 638 held in 1985.

the name remains on indian school road, important phoenix arterial street, , in steele indian school park.