They are actually debating whether the natives that JS worked with QOL was better off or worse off.
Better - literacy, religion, and standard of living
Worse - 90% death rate from measles and other diseases, which would be inevitable sooner or later
Not sure why this is controversial. Plus JS built 30 missions. What did Sally Ride do?
The “mistreatment” of the Indians by the missionaries is an oft regurgitated sob story.
As for Sally Ride, look her up. She was quite accomplished.