A Squanto for Knowlege Worker Pilgrims?
by Steve Watters on 11/19/2007 at 4:00 PM
Anyone taking the time this week to review the historical details of the American Thanksgiving tradition will likely find the account of Squanto helping the pilgrims survive in their new world.
Something I came across this morning leaves me wondering what else the natives could have taught the pilgrims. An email I get from a guy who calls himself "The Wizard of Ads" included an insight on how some natives viewed education for men.
The email explains that in 1754, the Collected Chiefs of the Indian Nations met to discuss a letter from the College of William & Mary suggesting that they “send twelve of their young men to the college, that they might be taught to read and write.” The Chiefs sent the following reply:
Sirs,
We know that you highly esteem the kind of learning taught in Colleges, and that the Maintenance of our young Men, while with you, would be very expensive to you. We are convinc’d, therefore, that you mean to do us Good by your Proposal; and we thank you heartily. But you, who are wise, must know that different Nations have different Conceptions of things; and you will therefore not take it amiss, if our Ideas of this kind of Education happen not to be the same with yours. We have some experience of it. Several of our Young People were formerly brought up at the colleges of the Northern Provinces; they were instructed in all your sciences; but, when they came back to us they were bad Runners, ignorant of every means of living in the Woods, unable to bear either Cold or Hunger, knew neither how to build a cabin, take a Deer, or kill an Enemy, spoke our Language imperfectly, were therefore neither fit for Hunters, Warriors, nor Counselors; they were totally good for nothing. We are, however, not the less oblig’d by your kind Offer, tho’ we decline accepting it; and, to show our grateful Sense of it, if the Gentlemen of Virginia will send us a Dozen of their Sons, we will take care of their Education; instruct them in all we know, and make Men of them.
Reading this, I couldn't help but think of the various trips I took home throughout my time in college and graduate school. As I learned how to be a productive "knowledge worker," I was reminded hanging out with my dad in the backyard how poorly I had retained the hard skills he had worked to teach me and my brothers -- carpentry, gardening, raising animals, hunting, etc. I realize those skills only go so far when you're living in the suburbs and working an office job, but I do often feel like something is missing from my education.
This Thursday, I'll give thanks for the many benefits of living in the advanced world we live in today, but I'll also be wondering what the natives of the 17th century would have been able to teach me and the other "Knowledge worker pilgrims" of our day.
1. Leah said the following at 6:59 PM on Nov 19:
I suppose this doesn't really apply to me as an Australian, but it reminds me fondly of the story of Pocahontas (the true story, not the Disneyfied version). When she saved John Smith (when she was 10, not 19 or 20 as the movie would have us believe), he became 'adopted' into her family and became her older brother and her special responsibility while he was in Virginia. She taught him as much as a 10 year old Algonquin girl could, as well as one of her older brothers who took a liking to him too (compared to other relatives).
2. Anna said the following at 7:54 PM on Nov 19:
That is so cool! I love reading relatively undiscovered little bits of history like that.
3. Kathryn said the following at 8:24 PM on Nov 19:
It warms my heart to see the goodwill between them both!
If only different cultures would be so polite to each other now!
4. John said the following at 8:24 PM on Nov 19:
Then Pocahontas was converted to Christianity and went to England.
This is such an awesome post in so many ways.
First, it goes right to the heart of why parents should choose where and how there children are educated.
Second, learning "letters" is extremely necessary today and especially in a republic.
Learning trades can be very practicle.
Both can be learned by one person, but, sadly, our system today tries to force square pegs into round holes.
It pains me to see so many souls created in God's image destroyed and damned by our "education" system.
So many of the problems that our system tries to address are caused by the very system itself.
Those problems are nothing compared to the fact that millions of kids spend 1/3 of their life not hearing about the God of the bible or receiving a ridiculous portrayal of Him and His creation.
If only Christians, when they recieved letters from their local school districts to "educate" their children, would do the same as the Indian Cheifs, and respectfully decline!
5. Leah said the following at 1:10 AM on Nov 20:
John- yes, Pocahontas was converted to Christianity and went to England. I'm afraid I'm missing your point.
6. Lauren T. said the following at 9:08 PM on Nov 20:
"...and to show our appreciation of your offer, we'd be pleased to have the Gentlemen of Virginia send us twelve of their sons so we can teach them all we know and make Men out of them."
Seeing as they regarded the "college boys" as "good for nothing" when they came back...this line of thought shows a certain sense of humor.
It's precisely this kind of thinking that resulted in my being schooled at home: because my parents wanted to teach me how THEY live, not however I'd be educated to live.
7. Justice said the following at 10:53 AM on Nov 21:
dang,
I'm getting a college education and much like the indians there is not much else I know to do.
8. Brady said the following at 11:37 AM on Nov 29:
Amusing bit of history!
What the natives failed to realize was that their time was coming to a close; soon the skills of the woods, alone, would leave one unable to cope in the prevailing culture.