The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-25
EDUCATING THE RED MAN.
Report of EsteIe Reel. 5uperin-
tendent of Indian schools.

teudeEt OF Indian Sch0OsS-
The third annual report of Estellc Reel,
Superintendent OF Indian Schools. con-
tains much data of interest. Miss Reel
finds that the problem of Indian civiliza-
ton moves toward solution. She says that
while We who Immediately supervise the
schools realize the magnitude of our work.
we do not feel that the Whole burden rests
upon us. The gradual freeing Of the In
dian from the reservation system is throw
ing more and more of the responsibility on
him. Our moral work within the educa-
tionai is one of tremendous import and our
hope is in education. based on character
and carried along Industrial lines There
is a responsiveness to ethical training in
the Indians so.;l as we'll as ii the white
mans. and when we have taught the In
dams the speech of civilization and the
crafts required by his environment he may
safely pass from our hands to the saving
power of self-support"
Miss Reel has made Industrial training
in the Indian schools the most important
feature in the work of educating the In
dian. She believes in giving the Indian
child thorough training In the funda-
mental English branches but thinks it
unwise to spend years over subjects for
which. in all probability, he will have no
use in later life. when the time could be
employed in acquiring skill In the Indus
trial arts. She insists that every boy who
is graduated from an Indian school shall
know how to farm in an intelligent manner
and have sufficient knowledge of black
smithing and the trades to enable him to
shoe his horse. mend his wagon. build his
house. and do the general repair work re-
lating to a farm
Miss Reel emphasizes the vital ipapor-
lance OF teaching the homemaking tuties
to every Indian girl. claiming this TO be
even more essential than the teaching of
trades to the boys AS almost the only
way OF reaching the homes of the carfp
Indians is through the girls in school.
and as they are to be the future wives
and mothers, the fate of the generations
to come is. in a large measure. in their
keeping Therefore, the opportunity for
training them in the duties of their future
stage should not be neglected
Since her appointment, twenty-six
months ago. Miss Reel has spent seven
teen months in the field inspecting the
schools, and a5certaining by personal
observation the needs of the Indians and
the service. She reports Increased en-
rollment, better accommodations, greater
facilities for Industrial training, and
Improvements over previous
years. strong plea is made for ccn-
pulsory education. The property owner
ship plan has a prominent place in Miss
Reels system Of training, and the Indians
are constantly urged to cultivate better
crops and more acres of land. The out
look for the Indian schools on the whole
is very encouraging.
Miss Reel has Travelled IL ,13S miles since
2,0S7 miles being by wagon.
pack horse, and on foot. She has visited
for season with the Indians in camp and
adobe, on the prairie and in the canyon,
visiting at the schools, where she could
observe the pecnliarities of the children
Of the different tribes, the methods EN-
pioyed, and endeavoring to ascertain how
the great end for which all
are working. may be more speedily accom-
plished.