New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-12
INDIAN EDUCATION.
MISS REELS REPORT ON THE WORK OF
SCHOOLS IN THE WEST

COMPULSORY MEASURES NOT YET ADOPTDD--CAR-
Isle SCHOOL SUCCESSFUL
Washington, Dec n-Mlss Reel superintendent
OF Indian schools, in her annual report. makes
strong plea for the industrial feature Of educa-
tional work among the Indians Miss Reel. who
was formerly Land Commissioner well as STU
pernendent of Public instruction for the State
OF Wyoming is the first woman who has been at
the head of the Govern ment Indian school service.
In her report she says:
The Government has upon It's various reservl-
lions about two hundred and nifty day and board
ns III wah hef s two md
sututes We're held last summer and fall In some
superintendent conducted. bringing in a number OF
innovations. Chief among these were the rea,iir,,
Ing Of actual work to be done In the teaching or
sewing. cooking. homework. etc. Garments were
made by the teachers who are REQUIRED TO teach
were shown how TO take the ration list provided by
var,o GoYtrhms"t ana peDnr y ov IN fH week
physicians conference was held. and nurses were
instructed how to small remedies. Manual train
ing also strongly emphasized
The Government mas not yet adopted compulsory
measures for the education OF the lndan chlidrti'
and the fact is that dark skinned sons OF the
forests do not take TO education readily som"
reservations withhold the rations until the parents
place their children in the schools. and 50 strong
Is the opposition this. in many cases they nave
the verge os starvation This feeling. however,
is not general and in the last year the attendance
percentage was fair In The reservation schools;
the work Is divided betw"en The hours Of study ana
Industrial duties The srls aye t9ughI, a ,ndG
housek"epcrs. and the boys farming and The ordi-
nary Industrial arts Ecfdes thes" res rvatl0n
schools. others teach the higher branches Oh thr
scientific trades. These schools have graduated d
large number Of their pupils. OF whom compari,,
lively few have returned 10 their old manner 81
living while great majority are making GOOD
citizens
CIVILIZING INFLUENCES NEEDED
There L. still however. room FOR improvement,
and the aims Of the young Indian mus, be made
higher; h. must be brought INTO touch and kept "a
ifs have been surrounded ~ a good class OF whi'c
settlers the debasiuS elects o. camp lie nave n'ei
ended The placing OF Indian boys ard girls AZ ser
vice in families OF farmers. although for few
months only the girls instructed in the prac,lca'
economy OF the family HE. IN" nOys III idtW.nb
gardening s;ockraislng etc.-has net with abun
dant success Carlisle. where the plan originated
Industrial education and the necessity OF FURNISH
ing emp oymeni for the Indian student upon his re-
turn from school are dwclt upon. Compulsory sdu-
cation and more attention To maihal training are
strongly urged
desire to emphasize the statements OF numerous
Indian educators that industrial training should
have the foremost place ia Indian educaton, ior
is the foundation upon which the GOverninent : Ic-
sire for the Improvement 81 the INDIAN y CUM,
The CONSENSUS OF opinion Of the superntend.nts al
the asst summer schools shows that too little az
;enton is paid to this heli OF labor ana IL was ~,
sisted that large facilities Tor WORKSHOPS diu
teachers be provided. that ms work upon s wnicn
Industrial training should be IN me WIN tne
work that the students wi" lh on =, h bacos III
supporting The backbone o. an education Is the
ability do something that arge ma30r or ,,o o;
the Indians must labor with their hands ana tn nay
The methods adopted should be thos" when VIII
each them how to do that and to enable the EN- 10
understand existing conditions ana 10 ADOPT tHem-
selves to their SURROUNDINGS ,, ,.,o -
Miss Reel a so pleads for Industrial education tor
Young women. on the theory that when you cyil.
he IN VIE you will cyilize the hone. and that
sewing. cooking and course OF tsononc nous nous,
keopins should 10 leading factors In every Indian
,,,r'e elurafiOu.