More Teachers Are Exploring the Adverse Effects of California's Missions on Indians

The two sides of Father Junipero Serra took center stage last week at Del Paso Manor Elementary School in the Arden area, where 30 kids performed a musical titled "California Missions - and More!" A pint-sized Father Serra declared, "I'm just a humble Franciscan friar doing the best service I can," then sang cheerfully, "grain is rising, so civilizin."

These 'teachings' are more of the rewriting of history that leftist teaching organization like "Rethinking Schools" is doing.

The California Mission Studies website is an excellent resource for a balanced view of early California life and the Missions. It is absolute wrong to paint that whole period as one of destruction and genocide. The Missions were built at a time when the native cultures were still in the stone age, and often starved because of vagaries of their hunter gatherer lifestyle.

Many neophytes joined because it gave them some reliability that they would have food (they learned agriculture from the padres and put it to good use). Some indians joined the mission for political reasons-- to create alliances against other tribes that were warring with them. Its a terrible shame we have leftist teachers who want to teach the children that all about our history is bad.

Then there is Las Flores de Ántes which is another website that is fostering an appreciation for California history through flowers. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.