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| Seminole lands include areas of cypress Photo, 1958, Florida State Archives |
A story in the Miami News (Jan. 25, 1927) opens a window to Seminole (and Broward County) history while revealing attitudes of the time.
News accounts that year revealed changing opinions held by Seminoles and the local white residents about education for the tribe. Seminoles were beginning to look at the benefits of schooling more favorably.
The first school for them opened in 1927. Soon after, a growing number of young Seminoles were seen walking to school in response to a bell rung by teacher Lena King, a Creek Indian (a tribe related to the Seminoles) from Oklahoma. It was "a scene never before witnessed" in this area.
Behind that scene was a Fort Myers resident, Lucien A. Spencer.
Spencer, an agent for Indian Affairs in Florida from 1913-1928, had long advocated for education for the Seminoles. During his years with the state, he collected records and documents in an effort to detail the culture of the these Indians. It helped establish a bridge of understanding between the state and the Seminoles.
Seminoles had not been happy about education sponsored by whites. It was reported they said they had been "antagonized" by a missionary years before.
But Spencer seems to have gained their respect and confidence. He camped out with Seminoles at the new Dania school site for two weeks and was on hand to arrange its opening. The school taught English and a few "rudimentary" subjects. Few spoke English.
The school opened and closed near Dania before the U.S. government officially set aside 80,000 acres for the Seminoles in 1938. Acreage was divided among three sites: Big Cypress, Brighton and Hollywood reservations.
Today, the Seminole Tribe spends over $1 million on education.
For more on the early school see:
https://janeshistorynook.blogspot.com/2021/07/seminoles-attend-their-first-school-in.html
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Sources:
Miami News, Jan. 25, 1927
Seminole Tribe of Florida
https://www.semtribe.com/
Tags: Florida history, Seminole history, Broward County history, Lucien A Spencer
