Douglas Island news., 1921-01-07
BUREAU SCHOOLS
 TO BE ABOLISHED
Where There Are Territorial Schools Native Children Will Be
 With Whites

ka whore thorc are Territorial and Nelson schools. is Che statement made early th.a week by C.9-5es w.. Hawkcworth. superintendent for Che bureau In Southeastern Alaska. This statement followed Che an- uounccmcnt made by Mr. Hawkes. worth Co Che school board ot Wuu-. gen chat th.s would be last year. Che school for natives would be op- omtcd thcro
 The policy Of thc bureau in thcI future wiI according to MrI Hawkcaworth. be to have tho native . children attend Che schools with thc| white children. il thc parents of Che. former have severed thcir tribal re- lauons and are tax payers and if thc| children come from sanitary homes rhh assimilation or Che native chu-| lrcn. according Go Mr. Hawkosworth. . win so a long ways towards solving Che native problem in Alaska and is. | according Co him. Che thing most del sired by Che natives themselves
 Ho does not think Chat Che change. win lcomc au in one year but that itI win come gradually and Chat In thc| course of @ few ycar Che bureau vl be able Co confuo its activities to those outlying places where there arc uo territorial schools He thinks ,ha. Che iault found with Che native children on account or iucsulorIty . 0r attendance com be romcdicd by Q . sharp enforcement Of Che Territorial compulsory educational law He. also believes chat examinations of . .bo homes Of Che native children should be made frequently by @. health oGiccr.
 That tlis system Of assimilation . wHl act as a lever to compel the tcd- ! eraI government to furnish funds ! with which to help support Che Tor-| Htor.al schools Is also an opinion ofI Mr. Hawkcsworths
 Differing sharply with Mr| Uavtosuorth on his stand In thc| matter of uonscweuuon of the| children Of Che Territory. b. D. Hcn-| Ienrsou commissioner Of education ! for Alaska. has made Che statement l hat u hIs opinion Che time is not ! yet ripe for Che assimilation of thc| Indians and chat it wl akc several ! generations moro before thoy have arrived at plane of culture chat NW justify them meeting Che white ! children on am equal footing In the| schools He says Chat horeditcry ! tendencies of Che natives n most smo would not permit thcm to at- .cud with tho regularity of white children and chat poor sanitation n Che home of Che natives and Che cou- arlous diseases they are heir to| would make them a dcrimcnt to tho| white children.
 Hc also said chat thc abolshmcnt ! ot thc bureau schools In Incorporated !. towns would not necessarily mean ! that ho schools would be thrown ! wide open to Che natives. If Che bu-| rcau closed is schools and it was. proven chat Che municipalities were found to Doc responsible for Che odu-. cation of Che natives Of Che town who wore tax payers. one solution Of l thc matter. according to Mr. Hen- dcuou. would Doe Che maintaining Of Territorial schools u Che towns for natives alone.
 Summing up Che matter he said. "Tbc question in my mind is not ofl race. but as whether or not Che uo-' uy@ can conform Co Che necessary
 standards Tho determining fac-I tors In any solution of Che problem should be Che highest good of the| greatest number From ths stand- point segregation Of Che white racoI seems necessary"
 Governor Thomas Riggs has stated
 hot while n Che course of time thc' native children Of Alaska may be. admitted Go ho Territorial schools. on on equal footing with white chil- dron. he 's convinced chat they are not as yet ready for such step.
 Az for Che legal aspect Of Che mat Ger. Gov Riggs said:
 "n putting Che policy of thc bu- rcau into operation it win largely rest with Che local school boards os to Che substitution Of Territorial schools for those maintained by 'he bureau Of cducauon If Che school boards do not desire tho ntermixIug of whites with natives and mixed b.oods in Che schools they have Che authority Go prevent it."
 Tho governor then quoted the caso Of Davis ys. siun as a point Of law where Judge B. A. Gwnaon de- c.dod tbot One school board at sItka .ouIf nrovont a child Of mixed blood