Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1890-04-15
TALK WITH DR., DORCHESTER.


DR., Daniel Dorchester, superintendent
NJ Indian schools OF the United Statea,
and who has been making tour of the
west, accompanied by his wife, is in the
city for few days. A NGw MExtCAN re-
porter called on the doctor at the Palace
hotel and found him to be most agreea-
BILE and pleasant gentleman. In response
to questions concerning the number of
| schools and their distribution throughout
the country, DIR. Dorchester said:
1--WE now have in the United States 240
Indian schools, including industrial, res
| ervation and day schools, the larger num-
Der being distributed over the west and
located on reservations. while the eastern
states have quite number of industrial
schools.
How do you find the condition of the
schools generally, and what progress is
being made in educating the lndian?'
Il have recently visited large number
of schools in the west and must say that
| am gratified to find the schools under
excellent management, Down in Arizona
| visited the schools at Fort Yuma and
other places and observed a marked i'm
provement both in the number of schools
and manner in which they are conduct
ed.
eat Albuquerque was much pleased
to see so large school and the splendid
showing as result of its excellent man
agement. There are more than 200
pupils in attendance at this school, and
great good is being accomplished, The
schools throughout the union are, gener
ally speaking, in q thriving condition."
about what is the number of pupils
enrolled at all the schools"
THE whole number OF pupils enrolled
at present is about $1,000. which is an
increase of over 900 in the past twelve
months. A few of the larger schools, to.
gether with the number of pupils in at
tendance, are those at Carlisle, Pa, 700 ;
Lawrence, kas., 400; Genoa, Neb., 200 ;
Salem, Ore, 200; Hampton, Va 200 ;
Albuquerque, N. NJ, 200" | find most
all of the schools crowded to their fullest
capacity, and in my report to the COM
missioner of Indian affairs have recon-.
mended the building OF several new
schools, especially in Arizona, where a
number of new buildings will be neces-
sary for the accommodation of the large
number of children who should by all
means be in school. The school at Al
buquerque is one of the best in the west,
and is now crowded with pupils with
more room largely increased number
Of students would be enrolled at this
school,"
"Will you name the principal branches
10, .l,t - In,
ment Of Indian schools ?"
''To answer that question in all its de-
tails would require considerable time,
therefore will state to you, merely Civ
ing an outline, that the branches taught
in the Indian schools are pretty much the
same as those adopted by other schools,
with regard to the primary department
Now, the main object in view IN educat-
ing the Indian is to fit him for some trade
by which he can be of some account to
himself as well as to the country In the
large industrial schools of the east special
attention is given to teaching pupils
trade, one which seems best adapted to
their taste. Some are taught farm
ing, few the art OF printing,
while large number of them
staying quality in an Indian is the one
feature that has to be looked after very
carefully. Until recently, no pupil was
required to remain at school longer than
three years now the time is extended to
five, and all efforts are made to keep
pupils at least ten years for after the end
of that time they lose all desire to return
to their old customs, and usually make
good citizens. Our large industrial
schools are managed very economically;
the pupils generally make shoes and
clothing to supply the whole school, and
with good training often become good
workmen."
Dr. Dorchester yesterday visited two
private schools aud the new government
school in Santa Fe, now under construc
ton, in company with his wife, Judge
Axtell and Prof. Chase. He will remain
in the city until the latter part OF the
week, when he will set out to visit the
various schools OF New Mexico and Colo
RADIO.