Selected Questions for Daily Journal

Choose from the following questions as prompts to help students begin to write in the journals. Encourage students to stay in character and respond to the question but to ask questions or explain their point of view to their journal partner.

1. Why is there a need for American Indian boarding schools?
2. Have you ever been to an American Indian boarding school? Describe your experience.
3. Respond to the statement, "Indian children should attend Indian boarding schools so that they may be 'civilized'."
4. Respond to the statement, "The education Indian children receive will enable them to lead a useful, productive life."
5. Respond to the statement, "English is the only language to be spoken at the boarding school."
6. Describe the changes in the American Indian children after they attended boarding schools for a time.
7. Recommend at least one change in the American Indian boarding school system that would improve the schools.
8. Predict how the life of the American Indian would be different without the boarding schools.
9. Describe the funniest experience you had with an American Indian boarding school.
10. Describe your saddest experience with an American Indian boarding school.