This is essentially the complaint around these schools. The pedogeological approach of these schools came directly from 19th century social reformers -- or as we call them today -- progressives. Many of the "cruel" conditions such as limited heating, meager food, and liberal use corporal punishment could be found at schools like Eaton or any other boarding school for the children of English aristocrats. I suspect that the rural and underfunded nature of the Canadian residential schools exacerbated these problems, but the systems were not intentionally designed to be shitholes.
This is essentially the complaint around these schools. The pedogeological approach of these schools came directly from 19th century social reformers -- or as we call them today -- progressives. Many of the "cruel" conditions such as limited heating, meager food, and liberal use corporal punishment could be found at schools like Eaton or any other boarding school for the children of English aristocrats. I suspect that the rural and underfunded nature of the Canadian residential schools exacerbated these problems, but the systems were not intentionally designed to be shitholes.