Invisible Power at Carlisle School

The techniques that were used for the ‘civilizing campaign’ at Carlisle School include: newspaper, the structure of the school, separate students from their home community by having them live in school, gender-specific education, and outing system.

The authoritarian power that is described by Fear-Segal is different from what we discussed in class so far, I think. The unique aspect of the power is the constant message of surveillance by an invisible authority. The teachers can have authoritarian power, but they are visible. Bentham’s panopticon used constant surveillance to control prisoners’ behavior, but the prisoners do not get constant feedback/comment on their behavior.

By receiving comments/feedback about behavior and thoughts (what students talk), the MOTBS successfully demanded students to reflect on themselves and change their behavior based on his guidance/comments on newspaper.

He also needed to imply the values of Christianity because the standard for ‘good behavior and good thinking’ is based on the white culture but did not exist in Indian culture.

I also found interesting to read Fear-Segal’s statement, “[The bandstand’s] location in the middle of the parade ground reflected its social and musical functions and carried no ominous connotation.” The physical existence of the bandstand doesn’t contain authoritarian power by nature. In other words, the power is socially constructed.