New-York tribune., 1901-07-21
TO CLOSE INDIAN SCHOOLS
SPEAKERS AT CONGRESS OF EDU-
GATORS DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE
SEPARATE TRAINING OF THE
RED MANS CHILD.

Notwithstanding the fact that the abolition of
Indian government schools, especially those on
reservations, would jeopardze their own positions,
every teacher who heard at the Congress of
Indian Educators held In Buffalo last week was
OF the opinion that young Indians should receive
their educational training among the white chill
dren and that separate schools for them should
as rapidly possible cease to exist.
Colonel r. II. Pratt, superintendent of Carlisle
Indian School, Carlisle. Penn, although known as
the father of Indian Instruction. because to his
suggestion due the establishment of govern
ment Indian schools. the strongest advocate
OF this principle.
Push the Indian out into life he said "and let
him hustle for himself. Compel him to earn
living. Force him 10 use his own aohtles ana 10
rely upon them for sustenance. The Indians are
Indians because they are held to ii on reserva-
tions. apart from opportunities to see and to earp
practically anything else. The government no'
only supplies them with food. but in many cases
with clothing and agricultural implements. Inc
law OF necessity compelling a to labor for
what ne needs is lifted in their case. and they
learn In consequence to become pensioners Ihe
dignity of labor. It's value In making man
thoughtful inventive and physically strong and
healthy is not the lesson to be learned under
such conditions"
WOULD ABOLISH RESERVATIONS.
Colonel Pratt insists that this hurtful reserva-
ton method should be broken up; that any scheme
nnistering to the reservation condition should De
eliminated, whether it be feeding, clothing. indus
He would require every school In the Irdian ser
vice to push it's pupils out into actual contact with
the other youth of the land. BY association and
competition with white boys and girls the children
of the red will learn to measure their own
needs and TO find out their deficiencies. The
schools furthest from the Indians and located in
the choicest communities have Colonel Pratt be-
lieved, the most advantageous situations. This
State, in his opinion. is example of the failure
OF reservation schools accomplish the purpose
for which they designed The Tuscarora, SEN
eca, Tonawanda. ST. Regis and Onondaga Indians.
after many years OF public education In schools on
their territories. show marked progress
from old tribal conditions. There in Carlisle
more than a thousand Indian children. OF these
62O boys and girls work In Pennsyl-
vanfa families. More than thousand applications
TO this school for help in homes, shops farms,
etc, have been refused during the year. Most of
these students VIII remain with their employers
and will attend the public schools Of the vcinities
In which they working. This is known the
outing" system and has been adopted by many
other Indian schools. The plan originated with
Colonel Pratt a means toward the end which he
has long been advocating.
or the 72o pupils Phoenix Industrial School.
Arizona. three hundred and fifty working
farms and housemaids. 5. NJ. MCGOWAN, super
intendent OF the school, stated that popular
the girls in the latter capacity that he could
out fifteen hundred more within radius of five
miles Of the school, Il they be had. The
Indian girl. he said. is tidy. obedient good natured
and kind but. with the restlessness Of her race.
she does like stay long in place
PLEA FOR THE PIMAs.
Mr.. MCGOWAN made a strong plea for aid from
the government restore the lost OF the