Tuba City Boarding School

Tuba City Boarding School (TCBS) is a Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)-operated DK-8 boarding school in Tuba City, Arizona.^[1]

Image of Manuelito Hall

History

The school was created before 1900.^[2] as the Blue Canyon Day School a.k.a. Western Navaho Training School at Blue Canyon in Blue Canyon, Arizona. In 1903 the school moved to Tuba City and there became the Western Navajo School. It received its current name circa the 1930s.^[3]

Like other Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) boarding schools of the early to mid-20th century, Tuba City Boarding had a military-esque regimen forcing assimilation. Its peak boarding enrollment was over 1,000. By the year 2000 the boarding population was down to 200. The school has a museum with memorabilia.^[2]

Circa 1990 the school submitted a request for additional classroom space and a gymnasium. By 2000 a $38.6 million renovation plan was presented and the school was in the process of approving it.^[4]

In 2020 the school had 1,300 total students. During the COVID-19 pandemic in Arizona the school made request for technology used for virtual learning, but delays meant the adequate technology was not delivered in time for the school year.^[5]

Campus

Dodge Hall, or TC-10 opened as a dormitory in the 1930s. By 2000 its purposed change to have offices. It also has Manuelito Hall, or TC-5, another dormitory.^[2] It opened in 1919. In 1962 newer dormitories opened so Manuelito Hall became unoccupied in 1967.^[6] By 2000 that area was roped off. By then there was an application to make it a historic site.^[2] Tuba Hall, TC-3, opened in 1910. Like Manuelito it closed in 1967 after being supplanted by the 1962 dormitories.^[7]

Student body

In 1974 the students came from Gray Mountain, Kayenta, Leupp, and other areas in the western portion of the Navajo Reservation. As of that year, many students originated with a lack of English comprehension and learned English as a second language. As of the same year, all of the students were of the Navajo ethnic group.^[8]

References

1. "Tuba City Boarding School". Bureau of Indian Education. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
2. Reid, Betty (2000-11-19). "Homesick students walked both worlds". Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. p. F1, F3. – Clipping of first and of second page from Newspapers.com
3. "List of Federal Indian Boarding Schools" (PDF). Bureau of Indian Affairs. p. 396/435. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
4. "Aging Tuba City Boarding School at top of list for new construction, renovation". Navajo-Hopi Observer. 2000-04-10.
5. Woods, Alden (2020-09-29). "The Federal Government Promised Native American Students Computers and Internet. Many Are Still Waiting". Tucson Weekly. Retrieved 2021-07-30. – Alternate link: Woods, Alden (2020-09-28). "Feds promised Native American students computers and internet. Many are still waiting". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
6. "Yuba City Boarding School, Manuelito Hall (Building No. 5)" (PDF). Library of Congress. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
7. "Tuba City Boarding School, Tuba Hall (Building No. 3)" (PDF). Library of Congress. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
8. "Boarding schools provide home from home: Tuba City Boarding School". Arizona Daily Sun. Flagstaff, Arizona. 1974-04-27. p. C8 – via Newspapers.com.

Further reading

• "Review of Academic Achievement at the Tuba City Boarding School" (PDF). Office of Inspector General. 2015-05-05. – PDF file – Alternate URL
• "Tuba City Boarding School, Navajo Reservation, Main Street & West Cedar Avenue, Tuba City, Coconino County, AZ". Library of Congress. – PDF
• "Tuba City Boarding School, Manuelito Hall, Navajo Reservation, Main Street & West Cedar Avenue, Tuba City, Coconino County, AZ". Library of Congress.
• Tiller Research, Inc (1988). Tuba City Indian Boarding School Buildings 3, 5, & 6 Historical and Architectural Reports. – Profile at Google Books
• Tuba City Indian Boarding School Study, Tuba City Cultural Projects. Cooper/Roberts Architects. 1993. – Profile at Google Books

External links

• Tuba City Boarding School

36.1334°N 111.2418°W / 36.1334; -111.2418