In the novel "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie, Mr. P is Junior's teacher at the Wellpinit School on the Spokane Indian Reservation. The phrase "kill the Indian and save the child" is a real historical policy advocated by the U.S. government during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a part of the assimilation policies aimed at eradicating Native American culture and forcing Native children to adopt Western ways of life.
Mr. P, like many other well-intentioned teachers during this time, was taught this philosophy and believed it to be the best way to help Native children succeed in the "white" world. He wanted to ensure that Native American children would be able to break free from the socio-economic constraints of reservation life by assimilating into the dominant American culture. He believed that by eradicating their Native culture and traditions, Native children would be able to achieve success and escape the cycle of poverty and limited opportunities.
However, as the novel explores, this policy had significant consequences on the mental and emotional well-being of Native children like Junior. It forced them to deny their cultural heritage and caused a sense of shame and confusion about their own identities. Junior's experiences demonstrate the challenges and complexities of cultural assimilation, the loss that comes with it, and the importance of embracing one's cultural roots.
In the novel The absolutely diary of a part time indian novel why was Mr P taught to “kill the Indian and to save the child” in the efforts of getting rid of the Indian culture.
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