Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1902-12-11
SCHOOL NOTES.

AT the request of Prin. Bergen,
school and made brief talk on In
dian life in the west. The discus
sion was in every way interesting
and instructive. We were told many
| things about the manners, customs
and peculiarities Of the Indians.
In part Prof. Davis spoke as follows:
"You must not think that the In
dams are our next door neighbors.
They live on reservations and are
not allowed TO leave without special
perm issioa. There are several diff
| ferent religious sects among the In
| dams, and as they journey across
| the state to their annual camp
meetings we have IA chance to study
them. When they go to meeting
the whole camp goes, not a solitary
member is left behind.
"The Indian loves beauty, and his
harness and buggy are the finest his
allowance will permit, often equal to
that of the whites. II does not care
for steaks but is fond of dog meat.
He can think of no greater honor
than to give his friend feast on dog
soup. One thing that we think very
peculiar is that the women do the
work. the men considering it dis
grace to work. 1t is astonishing the
number of crimes committed by
them. Satan still finds something
for idle Indians to do, and the only
way to civilze them is to make them
work. w. A, Jones, your own towns
man, has done more in the years of
administration to better the Indian
than has been done in any other 4
years.
Our Indian boys and girls are
compelled to attend school for 6 or 7
years. Many of them are excellent
in mnsic. but they arc very poor in
mathematics. In the schools the
girls are taught needle work and
cooking, while the boys are instruct
ed in farm work, handling horses
and farm machinery.
IN conclusion let me say that L
am very much pleased with the work
of the pupils, and with the method
of development by the teachers.
The atmosphere of your school is
good, and / shall go back to my
| a.br faalinfr wv oil mid Iu visit
| am glad to see you in the hands of
such good teachers"
During the past few days consider
able has been said by the Political
i Economy class and it's teacher about
the recent coal strike. We are glad
that such study comes in the High
School course, for it enables us to
look ana consider these important
questions from a purely impartial
stand point. We believe this study to
be one of the best in the school and
we'll worth our closest after tion. We
only regret that it is not a nine
months instead of three months
stuuy.
Many well meaning people ask
why is it that students are COM
PEELED to take such IA study as Geom-
etry,' and "why don't they take some
study in its place that would in some
way fit them for after life" The fact
of the matter is there is no study in
the High School courses of to-day
that does more toward fitting young
man or woman for after life, than
Geometry. The systematic training
and the strict discipline that the stu
dent mind receives from the work
ing out of Geometrical problems are
of great and lasting Importance to
him. What the world wants today is
the self reliant thinker and as the
mind acquires strength only through
its own activity, what study will fit
a student for the world better than
Geometry.
Under the leadership of Prof. Ber-
gen Trigonometry class has been
organized and as this study is not a
part of the authorized course recita-
tions come outside of school hours.
The assuming of extra duties by
teacher and pupils goes to show that
there is an increasing thirst for
knowledge among them.
|
Had you come to see us Monday
we should have been forced to give
you cool reception.
|
Are the Juniors in their second
child hood? Each has his little box
of colored pencils and seem to enjoy
making pretty pictures.