The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-05-26
.CO-EDUCATION
ADOPTED IN FAR
DISTANT AFRICA
Reveals Work Missionaries
Are Doing to American
ize the Blacks
HEATHENISM ALWAYS
MAKING INROADS
Valley City Graduate Tells
of Training the
Unrestrained

Valley City. N. D., May 26.-"For
many years we have been longing to
model the training OF the black folk
in Africa upon that Of the black folk
in America, but so many obstacles
presented themselves that 1t could not
be done. Now with the consent of the
government we are given free swing
to try out some experiments. The OPP
portunity is being seized with avidity,
and as a result we have our happiest
term. at Amanzimtoti institute
Such is a portion OF a letter which
Edithe A. Conn, a graduate OF the
Valley City State Normal school, class
of '05, now missionary at Natal,
South Africa, has written to a friend
in this state. 1t reveals the work
which the missionaries are doing in an
attempt to literally Americanize the
black OF the interior of that continent.
Co-education Is the Rule.
"Co- education is the rule here"
writes Miss Conn. "At one time that
was considered impractical and inn
possible, and prophets consigned the
school to oblivion. However, after
eight years trial, co-education is still
in existence, flourishing, and other
schools have taken it up as matter
of course. Our wise principal arouses
the chivalry Of the young men and
makes it matter of pride to be in a
school where there are girls. the pro-
Itecting of them being not only duty
but showing q degree of civilization
attained"
Miss Conn says that heathenisn is
constantly at the doors of the insti-
tute, but that in the school, ITSELF there
are many boys who are Christian
gentlemen. She adds that the girls are
most of them rare spirits, humble, in
dustrious, obedient and happy, and
that exceptions lead the instructors to
realize that they are dealing with the
young men who have a background of
Iculture and training, but with un-
tanned and unrestrained natures.
Educating the Unrestrained.
What have we been doing with
these children who are accustomed to
digging all the day and who must
earn their bread by the sweat of their
browse" asks Miss Conn in her let
ter and then goes on to explain that
I'VE have been keeping them seated
in the classroom for the five most
beautiful morning hours, learning the
three Rs and some disjointed history
algebra, diagramming, paraphrasing
and other fundamentals, after which
when the freshness and the energy of
the day were exhausted we permitted
them to work with the brain and hand
together. It was pitiful to say to the
girl, We cannot teach you to cook,
for what does a teacher want with
cooking? And to the boys, why
should you who are teachers learn to
use a saw?'
Government Gives Aid.
Miss Conn tells of the government
finally being persuaded to send a man
to Columbia to study educational
methods and that he came back i'm
bued with the spirit of Hampton and
, Tuskegee. both Of which he had
visited
ITO him now, as to us, these names
stand for the last word in negro edu
cation, and with him we are at work
for the highest development of the
negro in Natal. What blessed day it
was when he stood before the stud
ents, not q. missionary, but a govern
ment inspector, and told the students
that this institute was a plant, mealy
plant, of course. he said. because corn
is the best known to his hearers.
He said this plant was to be given
the chance which Mr.. Leroy, the prin-
cipal, had always coveted for IT.; that
it was to grow and bring forth USE
full fruit, different fruit, bigger and
better than ever before; that the gar
deners were on the spot ready and an
xious to cultivate this new variety
of plant. The students understood in
spart and expressed their appreciation
by energetic hand clapping, but the
force felt as if 1t were a Thanksgiving
meeting!
Three Glasses For Girls,
And what has been the result? We
still have the essentials of academic
education, but the word had broaden
ed to include preparations for living
as well as for teaching reading and
arithmetic. For the girls, three cook
ing classes have been organized To
be sure, the work is the most elemen-
tary kind. since in many homes OF the
girls one or two pots and a. few spoons
form the entire culinary equipment.
For the boys there is training in
the use of carpenters tools and with
it the making OF simple articles that
can be duplicated in the most humble
home. Boards (always called planks in
Africa whatever the size) of many
kinds are utilized, and boxes, crates
and packing cases are always in de-
mand. If one wants to keep a. box Of
any kind 1t must be hidden from the
enthusiastic teachers of industrial
arts.
Interest in Dairyine.
Interest in dairying has been arous-
ed by the gift locally of a Frfesland
bull and little by little as the funds
zere. secured this industry will be car
ried on. For the natives nothing could
profitably and the men can stay at
home instead Of going off to work in
the cities, from which they so often
come home to die, victims of the dread
tuberculosis"
GRACCH0ppFRc M MTNArE