History Phoenix Indian School

1 history

1.1 1891—1931: phoenix indian school

1.1.1 19th century
1.1.2 20th century

1.1.2.1 serving in world war i
1.1.2.2 assimilation fades




1.2 1931—1990: phoenix indian high school

1.2.1 new pis era
1.2.2 world war ii—going mainstream
1.2.3 closure

history
1891—1931: phoenix indian school

students in art class, june 1900


19th century

after year-long search school site, indian school opened in 1891 on 160 acres of land. until 1931, federal assimilation policy sought regimentalize , culturally exterminate native american students in place.

physical growth major theme in 1890s school opened. growth in students quick come under superintendents wellington rich , harwood hall. 1896 there 380 students, in comparison 100 @ 1891 founding. had twelve buildings, including girls building designed prominent local architect j.m. creighton (built 1892) , victorian-style hospital (built mid-1890s). however, focus on growing school didn t mean assimilation occurring or meeting federal expectations. students did learn speak english, there 4 academic teachers 1897.

vocational training instead emphasis: boys learned business skills , girls domestic skills. end, officials instituted outing system, loosely modeled after outing program richard henry pratt had instituted @ carlisle indian industrial school; students worked @ off-campus jobs gain experience , earn money, assimilate them. however, unlike carlisle, students did not live 1 particular family, instead cheap contract labor. due several incidents , abuses later critical in changing course of pis s history, idea of assimilation through employment went out window @ pis became way white phoenix employers procure cheap native american labor.

in 1897, new superintendent took role @ pis, samuel mccowan. continued emphasis on increasing enrollment realized academics had improve. diversified student body, recruiting mojaves , hopis on southwest. aggressive recruitment closed 1890s made pis second largest school in federal system, on 700 students. overcrowding accompanied rapid growth, , during mccowan s tenure, built new dormitories , employee residences.

20th century

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.

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.