The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1905-02-19
THE cHickAsAw SCHOOLS.
To Editor Ardmoreite.


schools of our country. with the per
mission of ,hc management Of the ArI.
morcitc & want to discuss the manage
mcnt of the Chickasaw schools. or
more properly the disbursements OF
the Chickasaw school fund.
Their. are living here and there
Chichasaw children who do not re
cclyc any benefit whatever from this
fund. / realize the fact that these
children are at liberty to attend the
established Indian schools that are
located at various points in the Ter
ritory. I further realize the fact that
when the Chickasaw Legislature voted
twelve dollars to each Chickasaw child
for educational purposes that he was
In sympathy with his colleagues in
trying To oncr an opportunity to every
Chickasaw child equal privileges In
this line: and that his intention was
tu reach il possible every child OF the
Chickasaw blood. Now, there are
ChickasaW families many of them, iso-
lated from these school centers. who
can not send their children on any
great distance. In this respect they
are not unlike many non citizen or
white people. TO have an opening for
the admittance Of children into schools .
remote. is one thing. and to be situated
SO as to patronize them. is another
We believe that the Legislature of the
Chickasaw people in passing the law
referred to. meant to better the Chick.
a,aw child's opportunity. We are at
loss To see how any amount of oppor-
tunity, unless IT. be in severalty and
that directly To each child, could und'r
present conditions succeed. BY exam
nation into the situation, We find
majority Of these children out #
school. Why Is this the case? Eyiden,-
~ for more than one reason As stated
in the outset. there are parents VINO
cannot send their children OF; aga.r
in many localities their number is too
small to organize a home school, and
by those administering same, are Of
nature to kin the law in effect and
hence defeat these parents in educa'
ing their children. Now, we under
stand that any teacher, whatever mis-
OF her qualifications as teacher, mus
go long distances and be to conside:-
Bile expense to be examined by the
Chickasaw Board OF examiners befor1
he can be appointed to teach these
children. Now, when the teacher looks
this matter in the face it is not very
encouraging.
We do not want to censure anyone
nor do not in this article aim to do
so. but having been so often asked
To give our views ON this matter by
those Interested, we risk this endea Dc
or. Let us take mp an example. / am
acquainted with the situation III tn"
case There are in and around tn"
town of ElmOre, |. r., not more than
five children of Chickasaw blood Yet
they are Chickasaws. and as such are
entitled To their pro ratio OF the Indian
school appropriation. But how are
they to get il? In the instance refer
red to, they cannot leave home. BHt
some might answer; have the teache <
OF Elmore examined by the Chickasaw
board Of examiners Of teachers and
then they can attend his school free
Eut what about the teacher? Must he
go to TishomingO, incWrins quite an
expense and loss of time In order io
collect 80 email sum from this fund?
Now. as a rule these children attend
their nearest school, paying their own
the matter, the teacher Is not oNam!u-
ed in order to collect the two dollars
each Of his Chickasaw pupils, but rain
cr 20 collect the small difference be
tween his own tuition rates and the
two dollars allowed by the Chickasay
government, and also, OF course that
The parent, guardian, or boarder OF
said children can collect his ten dollars
per month from said government for
buadmg the children.
We notice in late issue OF the
Dallas News a ruling touching tbs
matter 10y President Roosevelt Now,
The class of schools the Catholic sec
tartan schools referred TO here are IN
way sof themselves. favored. It IS
0. l..