The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-02-12
Education for the CataWbas.
% the Editor of The State :

AS South Corolinian who is
proud of the Catawba Indians,
who sympathizes with the rem
nant of the tribe in it's present ne
elected condition, and who thinks
that South Carolina owes much to
them for their past friendship and
service to our people, | write to
heartily second the suggestion con,
tanned in Prof. H. Lewis Scaife's elo-
quent letter in regard to these In
dams having school given them
by the State. AS they live on
reservation they are wards, but,
strictly speaking, not citizens ct
South Carolina, therefore don't
ask that an absolute free school be
given them. My educational plan,
roughly outlined, is as follows:
Let the Legislature appropriate
the sum of $50 year for two
years, which amount is to be given
the Catawba agent to be used Tor
school purposes We say let this
appropriation be made for two years,
because in that time it will be
pretty clearly seen whether or not
the school is success. If 1t is rot
a success, then it can be easily dis
continued. but we would like the
plan to have fair trial. Let the
school be started the first week in
November of each year. Five cents
month is to be paid by the In
dian parents for every Indian child
that attends the school, and any
Indian who is grown can attend the
school by paying this sum every
month. If any white children
should attend. 10 cents month
must be paid for each one Of them
by their parents. This money is to
be paid during the first Of each
month and every pupil for whom
the money has not been paid by the
middle of the month. shall be dis
continued for the remainder Of the
month. At the end Of each month
the teacher is to be paid by The
Catawba agent enough money oct of
the Indian school funds to make her
salary (including what has already
been paid for each pupiI) $50
month. At the end CT the four
schoo! months the Indian agent Is TO
return to the State treasurer what
ever money is left over of the school
funds after the teacher has been paid
all that is due her. The agent shall be
required TO visit the indian school
once during the school session
Let some additional funds be added
to the school appropriation this year,
which amount is TO be used IN build
ing comfortable schoolhouse on the
reservation and furnishing the same
with a stove. Let this school be
under the management of three In
dian trustees, o3e O: whom shall be
the chief of the tribe, and the other
two shall be elected as trustees by
the tribe on the first Wednesday in
October. or near that time, and both
of whom shall serve for one year
These three trustees are to choose
the teacher and see that the school
house is kept in proper order The
Catawbas shall be allowed to use this
building for religious purposes, such
as preaching and Sunday School,
also, if they choose, they can hold
the election of the chiefs and other
school trustees in it. If they have
a private school when the other
school is over, they are to be allow
ed the use of this school house for
that purpose. Should South Carolina
discontinue the school, then the build
ing is to become the common prop
erty of the Catawba tribe.
Those who apply to teach this
school are to have certificate just as
though they were going to teach in
the regular public schools. The
teacher must be a female and OF the
white race, unless some educated IN
dian female with teachers certlH-
cate were to apply for the position,
then she and not white teacher is to
be chosen. The legislature will
doubtless find it necessary, from time
to time, 10 amend the laws relating
to this school.
Elf we need anything, we need
education," earnestly exclaimed John
Sanders, an intelligent Catawba, IN
conversation with the writer while
we were On visit to the reservation
last summer.
Gentlemen of the Legislature. you
have it in your power to give this
neglected people that education o
which John Sanders spoke lht
plan propose will cost but little
and it will be money spent IN lmproV
ing the mental (if not the moral