Another Picture

I've been reading other books about residential schools in order to learn more from different perspectives that are not necessarily as academic as the ones that have been presented over the course of the class. I found a lot of books in the library system in Saskatoon. This particular book was very interesting as it was written by a retired Anglican bishop who sought to present a different perspective on what had occurred in the residential school system.

The bias was very clear through the course of this book towards justifying the actions of Christianity, specifically that of the Anglican church. This book was not concerned with redeeming the image of any other denomination than Anglicanism. I was also struck by whose accounts were used in the book. Very few accounts from students were used, while principals and teachers were allowed to present how they felt they did the best for their students. Presenting only one point of view on residential schools does not allow for reconciliation to occur because there was no expression of mutuality. These writings presented physical abuse as justified as the "norm" for that era and the Anglican church was absolved from being involved in sexual abuse. This was one of the many facts that I knew to be untrue in this book. There were many schools run by Anglican priests where horrific sexual and physical abuse occurred.

There were a few positives to this book. One was a particularly relevant quote from a survivor that was spoken to a former administrator. the man said "Why is it that when one of succeeds, you assume it's because of you; and when we fail, it's in spite of you" (Bays, 2009). This quote sums up how many former teachers and administrators justify their actions. Any good that is done by First Nations survivors of residential schools is touted as only occurring because of the teachers and failures are seen as something that occurred in spite of the "good" that the government did. The government and the church are not allowed to take credit for successes if they are not willing to admit how the contributed to many harsh conditions and impoverished lives.

This book acts as a reminder that propaganda is not merely a tool of the past, but very much present in the struggle to ensure that positive light is shone on negative actions. Although many of those who committed horrific acts in the past are no longer living, those who are still alive seek to justify their actions in order to ensure that there will be no legal action taken against them and that they may clear their conscious'. In order for true reconciliation to occur, it is necessary for these accounts to cease being presented and mutuality in the case of both students and teachers.


References
Bays, E. (2009). Residential schools: Another picture. Ottawa, ON: Documents Majemta Inc.