Lefties insist that RS arose through nothing but evil intentions. That the millions we spent on RS, even in depth of the great recession, was only out of maliciousness. That the priest and educators who devoted their lives to educating these children, did so only because they were sadists.

Educating aboriginals was an impossible and unrewarding task. They spoke 150+ languages, none of which had any form of writing. They were itinerant and isolated so reaching them was expensive. Their cultures were millennia behind the west. Broken homes, alcoholism, and violence were common place. Kids had no role models and no interest in leaning.

Yet, as you say, education was the only solution. What chance would they have if without it, not even speaking English or French? We ought to praise both the educators and the students who learned.