Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-04
INDIAN TEACHERS
ILLUSTRATE WORK
SHOW METHODS EMPLOYED IN
INDIAN SCHOOLS
Dr.. Chamberlain, Acting President of
Throop Polytechnic Institute, Adj
dresses Pedagogues on "What
Is Worth While"

The second session of the Indian
school teachers convention, one of the
most interesting adjuncts of the N. E.
A., which meets here next week, was
held at the normal school building yes
terday morning, with a largely in
creased audience, and it is expected
that by the latter part of the week
the attendance will exceed that of any
previous convention.
The exercises were opened with music
by the Sherman institute mandolin
club, and the twenty girls composing
it, all of whom wore white dresses
made by themselves, were the recip-
tents of many congratulations.
DR.. A. II. Chamberlain, acting presi-
dent of Throop Polytechnic institute
of Pasadena, to whose efforts it is
| largely due that the N. e. A. conven-
ton meets here, spoke first, taking as
his topic What Is Worth While"
"All education" he said, has the
same ultimate. purpose, namely, the
training of true citizens for service,
and whether the color of our pupils
be white or black or red; whether the
work be in the city, crowded with its
tenements and enveloped in an atmos-
phere of commercialism, or upon the
broad western plain; whether the lack
OL SOCldl ana llleIdIy Oppol IulilllCo 10
balanced by proximity to nature and
the realities of life; whether the study
be that of arithmetic or blacksmithing;
whether the equipment of the school
is modern and the surroundings ideal.
or consist of meager appliances and
unhappy environment; whether the
teacher is well or poorly paid; what
ever the conditions 1t must be remem-
bered that it is the work and the spirit
| ~, IL 1f hor o1-nc, 11n y,rnfnGcinn
Can Teach Us Much
"In many ways the Indian schools
can teach us knowledge and wisdom.
Especially in the matter of Industrial
education the work of the Indian
schools IS in these days remarkable.
Those of you who are familiar with
the Course of Study for the Indian
Schools of the United States indus
trial and literary, issued as far back
as 1901, will, if you compare this with
many of our owr courses of study for
the elementary grades today. find the
advantages largely in your favor.
Let me call your attention first to
the fact that individuality is worth
while. TO teach men how they may
grow independently and for themselves
is perhaps the greatest service that one
man can do for another says someone
| III lIuuSlIldl NOlh peiA liSuAoAiy liz
conditions that surround the student,
the environment in which he is placed,
the social and civic life of the COM
munity, the industrial, the commercial
and financial atmosphere pertaining
all this together with the students
likes and dislikes his strengths and
weaknesses, his abilities and short.
comings, must be thoroughly consid-
cred in planning work, that individ-
! aa Hauo1Onnd and character
| formed.
1--WE must emphasize the real and
eliminate the nonessential. To do this
we must consider the materials and
possibilities that lie Immediately about
US. The work in the Indian schools
should be adapted to meet local con-
ditions, regardless of what is done
elsewhere"
Lesson on Alfalfa
Miss Bertha Proctor, one of the
teachers of Sherman institute, present.
ed an interesting and instructive lesson
on alfalfa Most of the Indian children
have land and in the schools special
emphasis is laid on agricultural In
struction, so that when pupils return
to their homes they may be able to
make good living from the soil.
Miss Proctor's pupils first displayed
old and new alfalfa seed, explaining
why the 1reSn SHOULD Dc uSCu, IilOH
told how the ground is prepared for
planting, how and when to irrigate,
the average yield per acre, the cost
of production and the net profits.
A large bunch of alfalfa was USED
to illustrate the growth at various
stages and the lesson demonstrated In
practical way how problems in arith-
metic, composition work, drawing, Eng
lish speaking, etc, may be taught III
the class room in connection with IN
dustrial subjects.
The alfalfa lesson was followed by
a demonstration in laundering, under
the direction of Miss Anna e. j. Smith
of Sherman institute, showing how
pupils learn to speak English While
they are taught some useful industry
During the lesson an Indian girl eX-
plained how to wash, starch and iron
shirt waist, performing the work
while she talked.
The Indian school teachers will cele-
brate the Fourth at the seashore, ana
there will be no session today. To-
morrow at $3.50 DIR. Chas. c. Van LieW,
president of the state normal school
at Chico, and DR.. Samuel 7. Black,
president of the state normal school at
San Diego, will address the convention.
Prof. Clarence L. Gates will show how
carpentry may be correlated with class
room work, and Miss Harriet. Harvey
will give a demonstration in sewing.