Clash of Cultures: America's Educational Strategies in Occupied Haiti, 1915-1934

Clash of Cultures retraces the United States intervention and occupation of Haiti for two decades, 1915–1934. Though the treaty of 1916, which legalized the occupation, did not place educational matters under American control, the Marines used their unlimited authority to interfere with the operation of Haitian schools. Their interference led to a clash between Haitian and American cultures over educational policy for Haiti. American officials proceeded to develop a scheme aiming at a complete take-over of the Haitian school system, which was sternly opposed by the Haitians. As the obstacles in the way of a take-over proved to be insurmountable, the Americans moved to bypass the Haitian school system by creating a system of their own through the Service Technique de l'Agriculture et de l'Enseignement Professionnel, an American controlled agency. Clash of Cultures highlights the patterns of racism which permeated educational aims and objectives pursued by American bureaucrats. It demonstrates that in the background of the cultural conflicts between Haiti and the United States lies a wider collision of cultural imperialism, between the Breton clergy who safeguarded the French culture in Haiti and the Anglo-Saxon Americans.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 List of Tables Part 2 Foreword Chapter 3 Introduction Part 4 Haiti's Traditions of Educational Neglect Chapter 5 The Spanish Period Chapter 6 The French Colonial Heritage Chapter 7 After Independence: Persistence of the Colonial Mentality Chapter 8 The Struggle for Cultural Supremacy Part 9 American Bayonets and Educational Bureaucrats Chapter 10 The Treaty and Education Chapter 11 Arrogance and Racism within the Gendarmerie Chapter 12 Conflicts Chapter 13 Early Intervention in Haitian Education Part 14 Haitians Fight to Preserve their Educational Heritage Chapter 15 Resistance Chapter 16 Attempt at Exclusive Control Chapter 17 Abuses and Inquiries Chapter 18 Quest for a New Policy Part 19 American Imperialistic Policy–Making in Haitian Education Chapter 20 The Russell/Borno Connection Chapter 21 Signs of National Effort for Educational Change Chapter 22 The High Commissioner Takes Charge Chapter 23 The Technical Service of Agriculture and Vocational Education Chapter 24 The New Educational Policy Chapter 25 Counter-Offensive of the Nationalists Chapter 26 The Triumph of Americanization Part 27 The Building of Technical Schools to Train a Working Class Chapter 28 Premises for Development in Haiti Chapter 29 The National School System Chapter 30 The Service Technique School System Chapter 31 Budgetary Disproportion Chapter 32 Higher Education Chapter 33 Dollar Diplomacy Part 34 Student Strike Triggers National Crisis Over American Educational Policy Chapter 35 The Roots of the Problem Chapter 36 The Explosion Chapter 37 The Forbes Commission Chapter 38 The Moton Commission Chapter 39 American Reaction to the Recommendations of The Moton Commission Part 40 Haitian Education Following American Withdrawal Chapter 41 The Colvin Affair Chapter 42 Education Under Haitian Control Chapter 43 Epilogue Part 44 Index

About the Author :
Leon D. Pamphile is the founder and executive director of the Functional Literacy Ministry of Haiti, empowering Haitians with education, health care, and hope. He is the author of La Croix et le Glaive: l'Eglise Catholique sous l'Occupation Américaine (1991), winner of the prize for best book in 1990 from the Historical and Geographical Society of Haiti.

Review :
Pamphile's book will become a classic in the field of Haitian and American studies. He scours American and Haitian archival sources, cites contemporary actors, and renders an elegant analysis...This is a...book...that needs to be read by all Americans as well as those others who have forgotten their own histories. Reminiscent of the effort to "civilize" Native Americans, Dr. Pamphile's penetrating research reveals that during the occupation, the U.S. sought to pacify and control what was perceived to be an unruly and rebellious people by imposing an educational system calculated to undermine Haitian culture and national esteem.