National Republican., 1884-05-06
OBLIGATION FOR INDIANS.
A Letter from Secretary Teller to n
School Teacher.

Letter from secretary Teller TO n
School Teacher.
Tho secretary Of the interior has defined his
views upon tho proper functions of Indian
schools in the following letter to Col. s. T.
Tappan, superintendent of tho Indian school
at Genoa Nob.;
DEAR sin: My attention has been called to your
request to he allowed to purchase girls shoes ut 80
per pair oannnt comply with your request. !
find that the ordinary shoe purchased costs a
cents pair have examined the same aud nnI
that thcy arc better shoes than those the country
girls wore thirty years ago, mud ] have no dUubt
are worn by Thousands OF iGrmcri daughters tp.
day, take this OCCASION To give ypu my iduu Of
tue proper course to be pursued in the purchase Of
clothing, food, Gcr aud the general training
of the children In your school. In tho first
place, low ne to say, while consider II
Stttictun IN book knowledge, | do not consider
that the main OBJECT of their attendance at school,
That cduca ian Is the best which enables person
lie who can clgthr Onl feed himself without the
assistance Oi other, is at least partially educated
him to speak the English language, supply him.
self with suitable food and clothing, make Nnd
maintain home for himself and his family, you
will accomplish a great work. Care of the body
is the first requirement to the attainment OF
civilization, and 1t Is useless to give mn Indian
scholastic education unless he has also ability to
supply his physical wants. The white boy and gill
brought mp IN q country where all the nonple ARE
engaged IN supplying theirwants by labor, have no
NUtll lOTOWl OUl on lllclt own RESOURCES
10 do the same. The boy that has seen his father
piow, mow aud gather the fruits Of the fold
VIII do IT Without special instruction. MI 50
with un Indian. lie must be tnught how tO hold
the plOw, how to prepare aud Keep in order his
scythc, when to put III and when tO harvest his
crop, aud II thnnsand things acquired by iarlnots'
SOS 10y observation must be taught specially to
an Indian youth, But above all, tho Indian boy
must be taught tho advantage of steady, con-
tiuuons lAboE lo must he trained 10 do what
he has never seen done, and what ho has been
taught Is not manly to do, want to i'm.
press on your mind that 4 YOU must
neglect either it should be his literary studies
aud not his manual labor exercises l much pre-
Ter TO know that he can pOuw, SOW, and harvest
than to know that he has made great attainmenis
IN literary way write this because fear there
is very general disposition 10 overlook the great
advantage OF the instruction intended to enable
him ~ snDport himself ! desire also to call your
attention TO the necessity Of strict economy IN the
management of your financial affairs. Tho limit
per capita VIII be doubtless the vicinity of $40,
II appears TO me that with the adyantaaei Of the
farm you. ought to be able to keep within that
sum and still furnish all that is required
for the proper care and Improvement Of It's
children. You must remember that the children
have not come from luxurious homes, and when
they leave school they will return to the reserva;
ton To take care Of themselves. Great care should
be exercised that they do not acquire habits OF
living that Will be so far above their ability 10
meet that they will become discouraged and fall
to be benefited by their schooling. They will
have plenty of good land and If they have ac.
quired habits of industry and economy, they Will
be able to take care of themselves in comfort but
not IN luxury. think all the appointments about
the school should be plain and inex ponslye, They
should be accustomed To plain clothes ana plain
living, having only occasionally enough Of the
luxures of life TO stimulate them to endeavor TO
secure ior themselves all the advantages Of
civilization. l want as little as possible done with
machinery, and shall be pleased to know that
you do your farm labor without the use of moving
machines and reapers II possible. Very few In
dians Will be able TO purchase expensive ma
chinery with which to carry on farming opera
tions, and they should be taught 10 SOW grain by
hand, cultivate corn with plow, and hoe aud
cut grass with scythe, and grain with hand cradle,
that you should teach both BON and girls to milk
cows. The girls should be taught TO make butter,
cheese, and curds, as well as do all tine household
work, such as cooking, washing, making, and
meuding clothes Very respectfully
Henry NJ TELLER.