“Thoughts on silence” - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

“Thoughts on silence”

Background information to Mary Jane Sterling’s poemSlide2

What are

“residential schools”?

Residential schools were government-sponsored religious schools established to assimilate Aboriginal children into Euro-Canadian culture. 

an attempt to both educate and convert Aboriginal youth and to integrate them into Canadian

society

disrupted lives and communities, causing long-term problems among Aboriginal

peoples

Are they still operating today?

 No. The last one closed in 1996

former students have pressed for recognition and restitution, resulting in the 

Indian

Residential Schools Settlement Agreement

 in 2007 and a formal public apology

by Stephen Harper (our former PM)

 in 2008Slide3

School life

operated on a half-day system, in which students spent half the day in the classroom and the other at

work

The theory was

that students would learn skills that would allow them to earn a living as

adults

the

reality was that work had more to do with running the school inexpensively than with providing students with vocational

training

School days began

early with

a bell that summoned students to dress and attend

chapel

Breakfast was

spartan

, consumed

hurriedly,

and followed by three hours of classes or a period of

work

Evening

recreation was limited, and bedtime was

early

Weekends

varied the routine by eliminating classes, but Sunday usually meant more time spent on religious

observances

Until

the 1950s, holidays for many of the students included periods of work and play at the school. Only

after 1960

did the schools

send

children home for holidays.Slide4

Negative aspects

the general experience

was more negative than positive.

The

food was low in quantity and poor in

quality

Clothing

was universally detested: ill-fitting, shabby and, in the case of winter clothing, not adequate protection for the season.

The learning/teaching program was

deficient.

Students had to cope with teachers who were usually ill-prepared and materials were taken from and reflecting an “alien” culture.

Lessons were taught in

English

or

French

, languages which many of the children did not speak.

Lots of emphasis on religious studies and observances, but a clear brush-off of Aboriginal spiritualitySlide5

continuedStudents were isolated

removed

from their homes and parents, separated from some of their siblings (the schools were segregated according to gender) forbidden to speak their first language, even in letters home to their parents

.

Impatience

and correction too often gave way to excessive punishment, including physical 

abuse

. Some of the staff were sexual predators, and many students were 

sexually

abused

.

at least 4,000 Aboriginal children died in the overcrowded residential schools. Underfed and malnourished, the students were particularly vulnerable to diseases such as 

tuberculosis

students at some residential schools in the 1940s and 1950s were subjected to nutritional experiments without their consent or the consent of their

parentsSlide6

Closing timeThe government decided to phase out the schools, but this met with resistance from

the

Catholic Church, which felt that segregated education was the best approach for Aboriginal childrenIn 2005 the federal government established a $1.9-billion compensation package for the survivors of abuse at Aboriginal residential schools, and in 2007 the federal government and the churches that had operated the schools agreed to provide financial compensation to former students under the 

Residential Schools Settlement

Agreement

.Slide7

“Thoughts on silence”Mary Jane Sterling

What am I doing here

Among these strange people

Sitting in these funny desks

Staring at this paper?

Oh, yes. I am in school.

These people are my classmates.

Though they chatter all the time

They are silent now.

Now I can think.

I see a bird flying high in the air.

Maybe it is flying south.

My heart leaps with the bird

Taking a message to my mother.

My

mind is heavy, thinking something sad has

Happened at home.

But the birds are singing

Everything is all right.

The breeze has whispered something in my ear.

I hope it whispers the same joyous words to my people.

I get lonely for my family and I especially miss my mother

But I shall see them all soon.

When we meet we won’t even tough hands

But our hearts will leap with joy

And in our minds we will be glad.Slide8

Student Assignment

In no less than 50 words, write about a time that you (or someone you know), either willingly or unwillingly, oppressed someone.

Find 3 examples of personification in this poem. Write the line, cite the line number in proper format, and explain the personification.

This poem is about residential schools. In the past Native children were taken from their families and forced to go to boarding schools; the results were disastrous. How would you feel about being separated from your family against your will? Why? (approx. 50

words

)