The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1917-11-08
INDIAN PROBLEM
BELIEVED SOLVED
New Educational Methods to
Make Rising Generation Self
Supporting.
PRACTICAL TRAINING eIvEH|
Uncle Sam Finds That Policies Adopted
in Red Mems Schools Need No
Revision After Years
Trial.

Probably no branch Of the govern.
ment service contains more united
and faithful body of workers than the
bureau OF Indian affairs. says those
who have observed the works OF this
bureau Among the sigma, and charac-
teristic movements is the drive along
the lines Of practical and systematic
education. The educational idea, prob
ably more than all other things COM
bined. II Is held. will effectualIy solve
the Indian problem.
Two things stand out prominently In
the policy of the bureau regarding In
dian schools: First, TO make them
producers as nearly self supporting as
possible not only As object lessons to
the Indians. but as a simple business
proposition, resulting In the lowest per
capita cost and the consequent reduc-
tion Of appropriations necessary for
their support. This. II Is urged. is ra-
tionaliy and concretely both effective
education and such economy as any
great private or corpornte interest
could observe. Therefore. the farm. the
garden, the orchard. the dairy and,
where the area OF the land would JUS
tify. the production of live stock have
been pushed intensively and as far as
possible In accordance with scientific
methods and practice approved by the
department OF agriculture. which, un-
der existing arrangement. supplies all
superfnfendents of Indian schools with
bulletins upon the latest dependable
research.
Practical Training Provided.
Second, there hss been a clear per-
ception Of the need Of a weli-balanced
course Of study essentially parallel
with the academic work OF the public
school, but including thorough indus
trial training In agriculture. with its
allied pursuits and the ordinary trades,
together with domestic arts and SCI
ence adequate for practical and health
fui housekeeping.
To prepare such course. having
special adaptation to the social and
economic status Of the indians as well
as % their scatferrd geographical lo-
cations. was no small task.
Experts Of the bureau who had
charge OF this work were quick to see
the need of definitely planned cur
riculum that would enable the schools.
through Efficient service. TO take the
raw material. the Indian boys and
girls. from q largely unciviiized state.
Mt a very young age. when they cannot
speak English. and make them over. as
Il were. a condition and undertaking
which the world elsewhere does not
furnish. and after few years turn
them out finished product, capable
of entering the competitive activities
OF their community or state and be-
come independent self-supporters
and citizens of average intelligence
and progressiveness: In this. more.
perhaps. than In all other factors, It
IL admitted. lies the solution of the
Indian problem.
Years Trial Proves Success.
This new course OF study that has
been laid out has now been tried for
more thnn q year. and seems to have
been so well prepared that but slight
revision win be advisable. II has been
scrutinized by educators of prominence
throughout the country and has elicit
I'd from many sources hearty indorse-
ment. II Is now followed to the full
est possible extent In every Indian
school under the aid and gui lance of
81 supervising officials, who cover a
like number OF territorial districts
and whose special duties are to see
that the course is understood and com
piled with and to report any un-
avoidahle conditions that seem to
call for modification OF its require
ments. Its academical features are
xuch as will enable pupils readily TO
enter the public schools without re-
fnrtiiug their progress and are DE-
signed TO suhserve the general policy
of the bureau Of encouraging the at
Tendance Of Indian children In the
state schools. There are now upward
Of 5000 Indian children In the puplic
schools aud under the provision Of law
for paying their tuition. equal to the
per capita cost for white pupils. and
providing the Indian parents pay no
taxes. the number Is rapidly increasing
and objection to such attendance by
white patrons IL also diminishing.
Produes Most Taie here.