White person say what?

I found the articles in the reader pertaining to the education of the Native Americans particularly interesting. As interesting as it was, it also sadden and frustrated me. I am taking an American Diversity class right now and we are just finishing up a unit on the Native Americans and the treatment they have received thus far from "white society." I was able to make connections between what I am learning in both classes, but it makes me even more frustrated. We attempted to assimilate the children by taking away everything they had ever known, including their families. We pushed our religion, values and traditions on the children to make them fit into "white society." Yet, even after all that work, we still held them back because of the racism that existed and still exists today.

The lost of culture has been regained some by the older people teaching the younger ones the traditional ways. However, the assimilation has taken root and the children really don't want to take to those ways anymore. It is sad because the Indian culture is really beautiful, and the people can teach us a lot if we are willing to listen.