Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1902-11-07
How They Learn Industry at the
Government Schools.

How They Learn Industry at the
Government schools.
GLOW are the Indian pupils hired out,
and what is done with their wages"
The Indian pupils are sent out from the
government school at Phenix to work in
good families as helpers. The girls and
some of the boys are employed as house
servants. The large boys are employed |
in various capacities on farms. The |
girls are employed through the chief ma
iron, the boys through the disciplinarian |
all under rules issued by the superin- |
tendent. There are constantly from 100
to 200 girls enjoying outing benefits.
The demand for boys is not so great
The wages the pupils receive vary from
So per month for small boys or girls to
S25 per month for the large and more
capable. The "Outing" system is con-
trolled absolutely by the superintendent,
who can call every pupil in at any time
desired. What howl would go up from
the residents of this valley if the super
intendent should exercise this authority!
The highest wages ever paid to any In
dian pupils are paid by the superintend-
| ent He now has two boys working for
Il
! cash a month he pays for their board
and lodging. He has at various times
| employed boys at from so cents a day up
to $25 a month. He pays his laborers al
ways according to their worth, and if
boy is employed at 80 cents a day and
earns 81 a day he is paid 81 a day. The
SUPERINTENDENT has always employed Il
| housemaid, though he might have had all
| his housework done for nothing. He has
paid as high us So a month for such
service and boarded the girl besides, al.
though he could with perfect prOpriety
have sent the girl to the school dining
room.
Not every applicant can secure pupil
from this school. 1t is keen pleasure ia
accommodate the worthy. But when a
girl is sent out, compelled to do all the
dirty work of the house, kept toiling
from early until late, never given word
of encouragement, never permitted to en-
? Ter the living rooms of the home, com
peTed to always eat her meals from 1
e plate in the kitchen alone, permitted t.
n leave the hounse unattended at night anC
, return when she pleases if she is there t.
begin the drudgery of the next day an'
! then offered payment in castoff clothing
the superintendent. when he discover
the slavish condition of the child, utter
Il some pretty strong anathemas to the in
4 visible spirits of the air and brings tina
It girl back to the school. There are nc
d many such.
e At the end of each month the matro
V and disciplinarian collect the pupils
i, wages. They, in turn. give this money
clerk in the office. who receipts fC
: same. The money mother" deposits ii
money in the bank, entering the same
II the chiId's handbook. This handbook
e kept exactly like similar books Of any ot
le err person. A child is compelled to say
le at least one-half of his earnings. Wh'
Il. his savings have amounted to So, intere
n. is paid at the rate of per cent. When
"a child takes final leave Of the school, b
money is paid in full These accounts a
y kept in proper ledgers in proper form al
7n are inspected at the same time and in t
es same manner as other school accoun
ld BY the system of checks-by pupils, N
w irons, disciplinarian, cash clerk, chi
ng clerk and superintendent, all Of whom q
Id inspected by government supervisors, 81
or cial agents and nspectors-mistakes a
or errors are practically impossible, and
,s lection is certain.
Gu You allowed to take white children IL
eu Indian schoolsP
an The government does not authorize
$" admission of white children into Ind
Id schools, except the children of school c
as ployees. Every Indian school, hOwev
me- has enrolled some children as fair as q
-b+ child born of white parents. These
~ the children Of mixed blood. Child
~ possessing a one-thirty-second part Ind
ne blood are entitled to school privileg
lai Until recently, since the development
art the school into an institution Of the
ms rank, there were few light colored
icy dams in the Phenix school. Now, h
tie ever, there are about 100 of the 700 '
are of mixed blood. Nearly every cl
Tho of mixed blood now attending the Phe
- school has been transferred hither fl
Ma Indian schools in other states and te
D"' tories.-Arizona Republican.