Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-01-08
SATURDAY, JANUARY 8.
HASKELL INSTITUTE.

CeIIent trdue, Ou5tuCSo a"o "'
NAL course. The institute is STU
ated about three miles from the
town of Lawrence and Is partly con.
nected by a street car line. The
buildings are of stone and are from
two to three stories in height, are
lighted with electricity and heated
by steam. 1t requires about six ton
of coal per day to keep the school
in operation.
Indian boys and girls are gath
cred here from every part OF the
United States. There are represent
atiyes from more than sixty differ.
ent tribes and they have entered
Haskell to procure an education
and 10 take the normal and com.
mercial courses, which are not Civ.
en- in many other Indian schools.
Some come to Haskell without any
knowledge of the English language
but il is amazing TO see how soon
they learn to express their wants
and wishes in the language of the
pale face. A little fellow from Mich
ipan entered the school a short
time ago. He was at first unable to
speak a word of English. Within a
weeks time the little fellow was
able to speak many words OF En-
plish. He learned it by listning to
others. The writer was witness to
an amusing dialogue in which the
little fellow was one of the actors
One Of the employees met the little
fellow and said, good evening, my
little man." The little fellow re
piled. II am no little man, l am
Bonnie Gibson" The above &C
count shows the Indians aptness
and ability to learn. and is only one
of the many instances on record al
Haskell Institute and elsewhere. II
proves that the Indian has a mind
which is capable of rapid develop
ment, and it also proves that he is
willing to have it developed it h-
has an opportunity. There was a
time when the majority of Indians
we're against education, but The
time is now at hand when they see
it's advantages and show their ap'
prevail by sending their children to
the schools which the government
has SO wisely provided. 1t is "a fact
that many children have to be de-
MED admittance to some large In
dian schools because of the inabil'
ity of the school to give them &C
comodation.
A pupil usually enters Haskell
for period of three years, and the,
are then permitted to return home
They can return again 10 resume
their studies IL they wish 10 do so
The routine during school day.
ie as follows: At $50 o'clock the pu
pills arise, dress and prepare fol
breakfast, which takes place at
o'clock. At o'clock the whistle
blows for work, and the pupils whit
work in the morning go to thei
shops where they remain until ll:3C
School IL dismissed and the stu
dents prepare for dinner, which us
ually consists of "stand BY" or era
Wy, beef, beans, and potatoes. AT
o'clock the afternoon detail 60 Il
their respective shops and depart
ments, while the morning detail al
tend school until 4 o'clock. Suppe
is served at $50 The evenings dur
ing school days are taken up will
study hour and entertainments
Monthly sociale, at which the boy
and girls mingle together in socia
talk, are helpful in instructing tn
pupils as to how they should cor
duct themselves toward each othel
The school 10 run on militar
basis, and is not governed by an
regular set of rules, but every pup
is placed upon his or her honor an
is given the privilege of judgin
right from wrong. BY so doiu
they receive their fret lessons |
self government.
In conclusion, let me say this
Haskell Institute lie only one of III
large number of Indian school
that are engaged in civiiizing tn
Indian race, and although II lie d.
ing a grand work, il does not forge
to give a certain amount of prais
TO the little reservation school
which are doing 60 much for IN
Indian at home. The time wi
soon come when Indian school
will be things of the past and oni
part of Indian history. This er
will see the Indian not extinct, G
not dependent, but free and ind'
pendent citizen of the Unite
States. A STUDENT.