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#2 Interpret/explain/explore the context and significance of the quote “We were supposed to kill the Indian to save the child” (35).










          In the book "Part Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie Mr. P has a deep talk with Arnold after he hit him in the nose with his mother's 30 year old book. Mr. P tells Arnold that he was not going to hit him because when he first started teaching, those were things he did to kids like Rowdy. He then says, "that's how we were taught to teach you. We were supposed to kill the indian to save the child"(Alexie 35). This was significant because what Mr. P is saying, is that people like rowdy have given up, his parents have given up and his grandparents have given up. They were supposed to be taught in a way that was teaching, but would also slowly rip and tear the indian culture apart. Their intentions were to make you feel ashamed and disgusted  being a indian and you should not be proud of yourself as an indian. Arnold is one of the only kids that have not given up. He threw the book at the teacher because he cares about his education and school. People like Rowdy don't care about school and since his parents gave up on him by beating him up and getting drunk, Rowdy gets bad grades and bully's kids to make himself feel better.

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