Boarding Schools On The Self-Esteem Of Indian Students

The boarding schools are said to have had a negative effect on the self-esteem of Indian students and on the well being of Native languages and cultures. The children were forced to cut their hair and give up their clothing. They had to forget about their meaningful Native names and take on English ones. Their own traditional religious practices were forcibly replaced with Christianity. They were taught that their cultures were inferior. Some teachers ridiculed and made fun of the students’ traditions. These lessons humiliated the students and taught them to be ashamed of being American Indian.