The history of the decline of the federal
Indian off-reservation boarding school system is spread over numerous
decades. The reasons surrounding the individual closures have varied
depending on the prevailing mindset of Congress. Scholarship covering
more recent closures is limited and has yet to be synthesized.
This thesis documents the closing of the
Phoenix Indian High School (PIHS)—against the wishes of Arizona’s
tribes—which operated from 1891?1990. Its end came a decade-and-a-half
after Public Law 93-638, the Indian Self Determination and Education
Assistance Act, one of three laws enacted during the 1970s dealing with
Native American education, was signed into law. It’s impact has been
far reaching and was the catalyst for the eventual demise of PIHS.
Chronicled are the efforts of the Inter
Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA), in conjunction with the tribes, to
keep the school open—at least until Arizona’s Indian children could be
assured of adequate educational opportunities within state/reservation
boundaries. Also documented are the efforts of some of Arizona’s tribes
to “take control” of and improve their tribal education programs by
utilizing the landmark legislation of the 1970s. Finally, also
discussed is how the school fared during its last, difficult decade.