The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-04-28

Mnny startling and Amusing rhinss
Are Done by Native Teachers
ana Paplln.

One thing aside from the r0oSters and |
mosquitoes that will make me remem-
Der my first night In Maunabo was the |
sheets, writes an American teacher In
the New York Tribune When | las
down or my cot felt around for the
sheet to cover myself struck some-
thing that seemed like a board, ! dis
covered Chat Il was the sheet, starehed
SO stlif that might as well have tried
to cover myself up with a piece Of sheet
iron. In the morning stood that sheet
up against the wall and sighed. Other
experiences with starchlng propenslties
encountered IN the napkins When
ever tried 10 wipe my lips at table !
didn't know whether II was q file or q
napkin | had when ! sent my linen
suit to he washed the frst time the
trousers came back starched stiff and
creased on the sides, according 20 the
custom there After I had explained
that / wanted them creased In front
they came back creased both on the
sides and IN front, giving startling
hoxliko effect when wore them,
Shortly after my arrival at Maunabo
made the acquaintance OF several OF
the teachers. two OF them from the rural
schools and another from town. Allar
men between foriy-fye and fifty. the
young man before mentioned and my
self being the only young teachers IN
the region. The Tuesday following my
arrival the school opened In earnest.
and The three rooms OF the dllapidated
schoolhouse were crammed with ne
groes. mulaitoes, whites and mixtures
OF all kinds. some with sense. many
without Nearly all were barefoot. and
with only one garment, usually ragged
and filthy, 10 cover their nakedness |
was TO teach nothing but English, and
began with the smallest ones by IN.
atructinE them III some of themorc CONF
mon expressions. such as Good MORN
ing, teacher." For weeks after when-
ever appeared In public. whether
morning. afternoon or night, Goo
morn, techah" was hurled at me from
the streets. from the dirty shops and
from the low doors OF straw thatched
huts. Among other things taught
them that "un polio" meant "a chicken
and also that "En Dlos con1amos" was
'In God we trust" For some days they
remembered "a chicken" as they liked
to hear themselves pronounce Il. but tone
day I asked a tiny darky girl wha'
"un polio" was in English. Without
any hesitation she complacently as.
sured me that II meant In God We
| trust"
Perhaps the thing that struck me th'
most at fret in my school work was thl
frequent request OF the pupils, and mor'
especially the girls, 10 be allowed t
leave the room to spit More than one
have been interrupted In a recitation
by one OF the girls jumping up and rush
ing TO the door TO expectorate. Anothe
sight to which am now calloused is q
see one Of the teachers walking up ar
down between the rows OF pupils smok
ing huge black cigar and at the sam
time conducting q class In arithmetic
one Of the rural teachers was seen Z
send boy out 10 cut piece Of auga
cane. which Nc suawrd with nonohal
ance behind hts dcsh while the younf
sters we're compelled 70 DO sums 81
watch him enjoy H.
Every English teacher on the islam
Is supposed TO conduct a class thre
times week for the benefit Of The "a
tive teachers Erglish is translated
Spanish and vice versa. and some Of th
assaults on the English language Al
surprising 70 an American.
nutt rpprwF nfATEcTe