El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-08-19
FIRST SCHOOL TO CHANGE INDIANS
INTO AMERICANS is PASSING OUT

CARLISLE the first and the best known of the Indian
y schools Of the United States Is about to pass out OF
ezsence-as Indian school, but It VIII continue as
beneficial institution. It VIII be turned to the use OF
the army medical department FOX the treatment and voca-
onsl training Of soldiers wounded or otherwise lncapa
tated- With whatever genuine regret the country VII
the passing Of the great Indian school which has had
pronounced influence on the tribes OF the country
doubt that the institution VIII be put 10 an even
better In this time Of
The sick and disabled Of the American army must have
the rght treatment those who have offered them
selves for the great sacrifice and have been stricken by
she'll bullet OF disease ater-care which their country
can give them be adequate. The need for
boga and vocational training constantly increasing
There is especially urgent need for such facilities
be- utilized with least delay That is Why attention has
been focused on Carlisle 1t has been found that the
residence buildings be converted into hospital buildings
with little difficulty while the big shops and buildings
where trades taught VIII be highly useful for voca
tiouaI training.
The reduction Of disabled soldiers is highly important
Many Of them viii be taught trades at which they
make living when qualified Others viii be taught office
occupations The machinery tools and class rooms Of
Carlisle serve this purpose admirably Hencetorth the
name Carlisle VIII not mean Indian training, but the
greatest curative and training establishment IN the country
for war victims.
The history Of Carlisle is little known and highly in
ferssng Il goes back to colonial times when the estab
shment then very much smaller, consisting Of only few
buildings was known as Carlisle Barracks" There still
stands massive stone building guardhouse built by the
Hesans Other buildings distinguished having been
headquarters Of American officers in the Of the
luton.
The conversion Of Carlisle Barracks into an Indian
school largely due TO the efforts Of Gen R. H Pratt
character while IN charge Of Indian prisoners of in the
south gave him the conception Of Indian school In the
midst Of white civilization for the practical training Of
boys and girls domestic and mechanical industries which,
with academic training equivalent to that Of the
schools would start them well toward self support.
In 1879 Gen Hancock IN command of the depart
Of the east which Carlisle Barracks located
Upon the request Of Gen Pratt Gen Hancock endorsed the
Of the barracks for Indian school Gen. Sherman
also endorsed the idea An order 10 that effect pro-
cured from the department in September of that year
An act Of congress- approved IN 1892 authorized the setting
aside Of vacant posts barracks for the establishment of
normal and industrial training schools for Indian youth
$50 long they may not be required for military occupa
ton" It VIII be observed that this quoted phrase author
the action progress the Teveron Of the esab
Eshment 10 military uses
The growth Of Carlisle is well known. It was one of
the ideas Of its founders bring the Indians closely
possible IN contact with white civilization. They nst
tuted system Of outings" by which, vacation times
boys and girls placed IN white homes TO work and
learn white ways. It long time before the influence
Of Carlisle Permsated the tribes For almost generation
j. seemed that tribal life primitive as ever that
Indian school graduates reverted TO type" fast they
returned the reservation Within the past IS years
however, the change has been very great The Indians
n their tribal life, taking white ways and
happier d result
All other big InGian schools modelled on Carlisle
What Carlisle has the Indian school Phoenix and the
Sherman institute in southern California and Haskell school
in Kansas also have Thus speaks for all these schools