St. Paul daily globe., 1894-08-17
RED MEN DISCUSSED.
DOlNGS OF THE INDIAN INsTI-
TUTE YESTERDAY.
Reservation and on-Reservation
Schools-Interestin Talks
in the Afternoon.


Indian Teachers institute a very lively
arose when G. c. Painter, of
the board of Indian commissioners,
mentioned tho trouble that has existed
fol- some time between the advocates OF
tue two classes of schools, the reserva-
ton and the non-reservatian. c. c.
Davis, of Pierre, s. D., spoke in favor
of having the schools graded all
the way through. and making
the non-reservation schools of
higher grade than the reservation, so
that 1t would mean promotion for the
Indian pupil to go from one to the
other. l.. ID. Davis, of Flandreau. spoke
on the other side, saying that before
this grading was undertaken there
should be law passed by which the
reservation teacher should compel the
attendance of pupils. Capt. Pratt, of
the Carlisle school. as we'll as several
others, took part in the discussion, the
majority of the speakers being In favor
of the grading system.
Miss Blanche Wood of the Flandreau,
). d., school, read paper OH the ini-
portance Of educating the Indian, in
which she cOntended that it had been
fairly demonstrated that when once an
Indian had learned the English lal-
guage he ceased to be savage. He
teok up the ways of the white man, and
changed his wigwam to q good house.
She said the Indians had good memo
ries, and made very good pupils
The Afternoon Session.
Charles c. Painter. of the government
Indian commission, opened the after
noon session of the Indian education
institute with an instructive talk on In
dian affairs in general, with which he is
quite familiar. His remarks were re-
ceived with the closest attention. In
teresting papers were read by F. B.
Rlggs.of South Dakota. son of DR.. Riggs,
OF well-knnwn Indian fame, on the SUBJ
ject: application of Herbartian Prin-
ciples to Indian Educatien;" Supt. Les
lie l.. Watson, OF the MenomonIe Indian
school, Green Bay reservation, on the
subject, Outlook for an Educated In
dian," and Supt. e. c. Davis, of Pierre.
s. D., on the subject, Course of Study
in Indian Schools. w. f. Garfield. OF
Fort Totten, n. d., was scheduled to
read paper on "School Discipline,'
but was absent from the meeting when
his name was called.
Following the address of Mr.. Painter
there was an intermission, during which
many OF the teachers and supervisors
accepted an Invitation to visit Super
visor A. d. Helnemann, of Chicago, in
room up stairs. where he gave prac-
tical illustrations in the use OF tools and
slojd work. MIR. Heinemanu will today
lecture on Executive Value of Manual
Training" in which subject he is recog-
nlzed to be quite an authority.
Jealousies Should Cease.
Mr.. Painter in his address Yesterday
afternoon gave his hearers many valu-
able hints as TO the best methods of
conducting their work among the In-
dianS. He urged them 20 do all in their
power to bring the various schools in
such relation to each other that all
Jealousies will cease He spoke at
length Oh the salutary influence
homes in disseminating the eno-
bling sentiments and valuable
truths they learn in school. He cited
the instance of one Big Nose, whose
son attended school in Kansas City,
and who was through his influence
taken out Of tepee into a house.
| Quoting Mr.. Seeger. who for twenty
five years has been laboring among the
Indian race and is now located in the
southeastern portion of Oklahoma, the
speaker said that some of tue Indians
coming back from schools did more for
| their race than could be estimated.
"In regard to children who go back 10
reservations" he said, 1--WE are told tnat
they become the hardest to control. The
agent frequently finds the Indian so.
| The fact is, he often is because he has
! been educated ami recognizes his own
| rights. He makes bad Indian as often
| as he becomes good man. That is one
| view to take of this matter"
Mr.. Painter argued that the degree of
J civilization which female pupils have
attained cannot be ascertained by their
| dress. He asked where any white
woman could be found bold enough to
| assume a different costume from those
among whom she lives. He closed his
| remarks by illustrating the value of a
liberal education to man i'll any yoca-
tion.
Trasz, Introduced.
Mr.. Riggs, who read the first paper,
took exec ption to some phases of the
present system of object lessons. "Ob-
! ject lessons" he said, ''at best have
only cultivated sense perception. Much
trash has been introduced. Indians do
not digest anythng-food OF knowledge.
| Herbart's methods tend to cnlrivate
mental digestion. In our Indian school
rooms must come the education which
white people get at home. The Indian
does not appreciate the value of learn
ing to read. He does not comprehend
the outside world, nor recognize his re-
lati0n to it. The failures of the Indian
! pupil are on account of his not under
standing the relation of things. This
! applies to all schools, but white pupils
are compensated by their outside train
ing. The Indian is destructive on ac-
count of the wanton vandalism in his
nature. White pupils are destructive
| for the purpose of analyZing things"
Mr.. Watson thought the outlook for
the Indlah was not as pleasant as it
should be, but drew attention to many
bright spots. He attached no blame to
the Indian, but scored many OF the
methods of his educators and guardians.
He advocated the teaching of work as
| greater Importance than book knoWl-
| edge. Under similar circumstances the
white man would do no better. The
| greatest consideration is the Indian
mothers incapacity for inspiring her
sons with manhood or independence.
lntemperance is the greatest bane, said
! The speaker in conclusion.
! q Mr.. Davis. the last speaker. recon-
fnended that cOngenial cOmpanionship
be provided for as we'll as mental aud
moral training.
but lively discussion by the supervisors
| and teachers.
| &c
PROCLAM