New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-01
g. WONfANS VARIED INTERESTS =
Life as Lived To-day Is Taught
in Schools Of Distant Alaska
William T. Lopp, Superintendent There, Tells How
Pupils Are Prepared to Improve
Conditions.
Conditions.

more businesslike and successful
white trapper goes into section with
the intention to get all the fur that is
in IL.
"The Esquimau usually goes for only
limited time; his methods are erratic
and his equipment is incomplete. As the
white trapper is decidedly the for
eigner, the rights Of the native to the
trapping grounds would seem incon-
testable.
"The most important work which the
government Of the United States has
done for the economic and industrial
development of the natives OF Alaska
is the establishment of the reindeer
industry. Nearly $4,000 are owed by
natives, yielding an average income Of
nearly a hundred dollars a year to
each herder besides the value of the
hides as clothing and harness.
"All indications point TO reindeer
herding as the future occupation OF the
Esquimau. We have always waiting
list Of boys who wish to become APP
prentices In the reindeer industry.
Throughout Alaska there are In
small native villages some traders who
charge exorbitant prices for the I'M
ported food and clothing which, with
the changing environment, have un-
fortunately become necessities Of life
for the natives. Valuable furs and
other native products are frequently
bartered for imported goods at rates
which keep the natives hopelessly in
debt to the traders.
an very many villages there are less
than one hundred natives; even the
legitimate freight and profit which any
trader must charge is a heavy burden
on such small settlements. The Blu
reau of Education therefore fosters the
establishment OF cooperative ctores
and other cooperative enterprises
owned and managed by the natives
themselves. By thus relieving them
selves Of the burden of the profit ex-
acted by the middleman, the natives
are able to secure the necessities Of life
at the lowest prices and can at their
own local stores obtain equitable value
for their furs, ivory, woven baskets and
other native products.
"The night when all the people OF
! Hydaburg gathered in the schoolhouse
to listen to the statement of the years
business and to hear the exact figures
their money had earned will long be
remembered II was the first occasion
of its kind in the history of Alaska,
and showed that what had been accom-
plished in one village could also be ac-
complished in another if the people
would pull together.
"a real hunger for business training
came upon the young people when the
store was established. Alaskans are
easily interested in any subject which
has a practical bearing on life as 1t IS
lived to-day.
Civilization cannot be grated upon
savagery; it must terminate and grow.
The Esquimau has force and native
ability. and he is not unwilling to be
directed. The problem is, of course, to
teach him to direct himself.
ITO the communistic mind OF the
Esdumau a sort of cousinlike regard
for his neighbor seems TO have been the
nearest approach to form OF govern
ment. In Wainwright the opportunity
presented itself to begin the expert
ment of self government in the school.
1.-THE organization was called the
Wainwright School Republic Any
pupil able TO read in the first reader
was eligible for membership; the kim
dergartners were considered as wards.
| The officers were a president, mayor
and Judge, each with term of one
month. The president presided over
the council at its regular meetings,
held each Friday afternoon.
at these meetings bills were intro
duced, discussed and voted upon, ard
citizens were elected TO perform such
duties as became necessary. To be-
come a law bill after being passed by
the council must have the signature OF
the mayor and be posted conspicuously.
"Over thirty laws were enacted dur
! ing the term. A few will give an idea
of what they were like: NO citizen shall
! speak Esquimau in the schoolroom.'
This law seemed failure at first, as,
/ instead of speaking English. the pupils
remained silent or stepped out into the
hall when they wished 20 converse.
/ They soon overcame this reluctance,
/ however, so that even the kindergart-
ners lsped bit of English.
"There were also laws to the effect
! that no citizen should whisper, be
ncisy. rude or wear his skin parka in
- La tina
for dirty faces and hands or uncombed
hair.
"The duties which the citizens were
elected TO perform were sufficiently nu-
merous for each citizen TO have duty.
The duty of the fireman was TO keep
the room omfortable from S a. m. till
8 p. m. and 10 bank the fire for the
night. The lamplighter filled. cleaned
and trimmed eight lamps-no small
task during the long twilight
There were the floors TO be swept,
ice to be thawed for drinking pur-
poses, snow TO be thawed for washing
purposes, the records Of attendance OF
the game killed by the village hunters
and Of the weather 20 be kept: paper,
pencils and books 10 be doled out and
various other duties in connection with
the school work TO be attended 20.
The mayors staff included three
police officers, one being truant officer.
another the monitor of the kindergart-
ners and the third the health officer.
II was often amusing 20 see a stubby
little twelve-y ear-old police officer bring
to school man-grown truant.
The schoolroom was kept open from
9 a. m. till p. m. of every day; when
school was not in session the school.
room served as sort Of clubroom.
Ore or more OF the police officers were
| always present and the room was al