New-York tribune., 1908-06-21
MODERN METHOD OF
HELPING THE INDIAN
TEACHING By CONTACT,
NOT BY FORCE.
Best Results Shoz0n by Following
Line of Least Resistance and
Developing Rasc Material.
An Interview with Francis r. Leupp. Commissioner
of Indian Anairs. Washington

of Indian Anairs. Washington
suspicions are aroused in credulous quarters
that there must be some special and interested
motive for going off in direction or another
from the conventional lines. For that reason
certain Difference is shown to the mmemerial prac-
tice Of furnishing TO the Indian only the unpictu-
rescue but practical garments which we ourselves
are accustomed to wear do require that
they shall be burdened with undue amount Of
clothing, however. My orders everywhere are to
let the children run barefooted much as posi-
BILE and TO give them few garments will
answer their needs. II always seems to me a
pathetic sight to see one these little children
called upon throw off its moccasns and to put
on the hard stubby shoes that the white child Is
brought up in.
Indeed it never to to promote par
ticuarly the civilization of the Indian at stage
of life to require him change his footwear ar
bitrary. II certainly does have the effect OF mis-
shaping what would otherwise develop into a
foot of natures own design. Wherever the point
has come up. therefore ! have made the rule that
little Indian children shall allowed to moe
casns If their mothers will take the trouble TO
make them.
One point in which l able to cut loose from
traditions of the Indian office in not requir
ing or even laying tremendous stress Of encour-
esen,ent upon the wearing Of so-called citizens
dress" Itis not the garment. ii is the human being
under the garment, that appeals to me. But when
it comes 10 the children in the schools cannot
90 much less tnan supply tnefH WIN eiHipfo NUS
clothing in general style. Moreover. there
is certain value attaching to the training which
children get in wearing the common garb Of civil
communities What they lose in artistic appear
.nce they gain. perhaps. in that sort Of conform
fly with the of the world which takes an in
teresting personality a step further out of the
category of curios.
Instead OF making a particular form Of dress
generally compulsory. idea is to try to appeal
70 the reason of the individual Indian He
has of erou
as ne does in a primitive state, but when he be-
comes q farmer a carpenter or a blacksmith
the blanket gets into his way. I never compel
him TO take it off; never offer him seduc-
tive Inducements do so, but 7 aim remind
him Of difculty he will have in doing his work
with his blanket on, and then let his mind
work out the Of the problem.
There used 70 be rule against any use Of
Indian tongue in a government school That
seemed TO not only cruel. but absurd On the
contrary. 7 SO 70 the point Of encoura sing the
children TO bring their little nursery songs TO
school and sing them there in their language
The pupils should be encouraged by all the arts
which will suggest themselves to the natural
teacher to cultivate the English language That
is the language they will be obliged to in
their contact with the white communities which
are growing up all around them and therefore it
has practical value which appeals TO the wiser
and more level headed elders OF their race.
go further than 1 have already indicated
and introducing into the schools line OF work
for the conservation and development of the
Indian ideals. A good many of the children
very clever designers, following the traditional
lines and coIors used in the bead work blankets
the baskets pottery of their own tribe. Instead
of giving these children standards conform
and our methods to follow I trying draw
of them what is already in them, inherited
with their blood. In the little papers and ga
zines published of the schools also l
trying to arouse among the children a love of
printing the stories which their old people have
rpId tber, amin TahI
those of EIsop Uncle Remus; sometimes narra-
tves of acts OF prowess, which would be used
epics if the Indians had any literature; sometimes
simple descriptions of life at home, showing what
the domestic and social customs among the
tribe which the writer belongs.
These little contributions used 'compo-
sitions in the classroom, and then the best Of
them, those which most characteristic,
printed in the school paper. To this source I
looking for the accumulation of a body of some
what crude but nevertheless valuable material for
OF the ethnologst and the historian
handing down posterity true conception
Of North American abOrigines.
At of agencies in Arizona the superin-
tendent my unqualified approval for act of
his when he brought from the camps three Ind
ians who had shown fitness to teach the more
backward of their people certain elements of farm
ing He offered them appointments assistant
farmers the government payroll They objected
at first 10 accepting such position, because they
wanted to live with their families. and their fam
lies were unwilling to adopt white ways of living
Very well" said the superintendent. then let
them live in the Indian fashion; that Is all right
have three old adobe houses in fairly good re-
pair which you nhabit. bring your families |
here and live in any way you choose"
The three families did into the houses !
given them, and did live in Indian fashion such
matters sleeping the ground. taking their |
meals off the floor, and the like. But what |
happened. Living among the white employees |
though in their own way il was not long before |
the head OF each household began to take notice
First one little touch of Caucasian civilization !
would slip into The family life, then another.
In brief 60 back to the statement with which |
started out. the thing be done with any of |,
these primitive peoples is follow the line OF !
least resistance Take what you find already |
under your hand tell them the material |
we may call IL. and develop it If you attempt
transform It you will have your trouble for your !
pains There is that which is inherent in the |
really forceful human being which protests against
being made over, for all OF us must realize that !
nature has started her Job pretty well, and that /
we cannot successfully obstruct her course with |
out having some strong for doing so, and |
some good common sense in our choice OF |
methods Charities and The Commons.
MLAr CnIJRT UNIFORMS COST