The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-10-02

cooking, sewing laundering, dairying.
poultry raising. home training and
housekeeping.
The Study of Art
A course in which the Indian mai
dens show greater skill and more APP
titude than any other is the art study
Miss Forman explains that the In
dians aSe naturally skilled in artistic
designs, etc. and always. as a rule
write. draw and paint well, in fact,
far better and with more rapid i'm
provement than the average white
child of the same age.
The dairy department of the school
Is feature. All modern appliances
pertaining to dairying are employed
and their uses taught to the girls. The
livestock includes IA Jersey cows, two
! Guernseys, 20 hogs. The poultry stock
includes 80 white leghorn chickens
Government authorities point out
that the Indian schools must train
the Indian youth of both sexes TO
take upon themselves the duties and
responsibilities of citizenship. To do
this requires a system of schools and
an organization capable of preparing
the Indian young people TO earn
living, first, among their own people,
and second, away from the reserva-
tion home and in competition with
their white brethren. Such system
does not contemplate a college or uni
versity, or even a preparatory school
Tor college entrance, but q practical
| system of schools with an essentially
vocational foundation. In other words,
the Indian needs a school which will
fit him as fully as possible for the
| life of his immediate future and the
changing conditions that may mark
his remoter future. The course Is out.
lined in a manner which will permit
the accomplishment Of this purpose as
quickly as is compatible with thor.
oughness.
Industrial Sections Added
The establishment Of the industrial
| school section for The education Of
the Indian has been done in man
| ner in which the cultured value OF
education is not neglected. but rather
subordiinted to the practical needs
| OF the childs environment. They aim
10 provide that form of training and
instruction which leads directly 10
seii'support and productive efficiency.
A large amount of productive work
is necessary in the Indian schools.
They could not possibly be maintain
cd on the amounts appropriated by
congress for their support were II
not for the fact that students are re-
/ quired to do an amount OF labor that
has, In the aggregate. a very appre.
ciable monetary value. The plan re-
| quires the Indian student TO work
half day and 10 attend classroom
exercises during the other half. with
studies properly adjusted 10 the stu.
dents mental status and with non.
essentials and useless repetition elm.
| mated from the courses, this condi.
ton is not a handicap 10 the pro.
gress Of the student. II has been
demonstrated Ia schools for whites
that pupils can complete grade
year even when taking academic work
but half day. and doing vocation
al work during the other half.
Course Is Divided
The course OF study as pursued In
the Indian schools is separated into
three divisions-(D primary. (2) pre-.
vocational, t8 vocational. The pri.
mary division includes the first three
grades. the vocational division In
cludes the next three grades and the
vocational division contemplates n
four-year course above the sixth
grade. The first group is the beginning
stage. the second group is the finding
stage, and the third group is the tit"
ting stage.
In the first six years the course
parallels the public school courses In
the essentials OF the academic work
During this period the principles are
taught and application OF them is
made as soon after instruction IA pos.
stble. The knowledge OF Industrial and
domestic activities at this stage CEN
ter more or less around the condi-
tlons essential 10 the proper main.
tenance and Improvement Of the rural
home.
This n the period when the boys
and girls, through trying out their
capacities, are finding that activity to
which It Is thought best 10 apply
themselves definitely In the vocational
period. The course has been planned
with the vocational aim very clearly
and positively dominant, with es.
pecial emphasis on agriculture and
homemaking.
The character and amount OF acn.
demic work has been determined nv
It's relative value and Importance AS
a means OF solution OF the problem
OF the farmer. mechanic, and house
wife.
Changes Living Conditions
Through the medium Of the Indian
schools a great work Is being accom-.
plshod as regards the restoration OF
the health Of the red man. Many
tribes of Indians has gradually de.
generated physically due TO lack Of
knowledge Of the laws OF health and
sanitation, or capacity to adjust
themselves properly to the type 81
modern home. In his native state II
will he remembered that the Indian lei
an active life In the great out.of.doors.
He lived close to nature and developed
great physical endurance and bodily
vigor. With the coming OF the white
man. the Indian was forced gradually
to change both his occupation and
his mode Of living. Restricted to reser.
gations. he no longer follows the chase
as his chief occupation or locates a,
will his camp. selected and changed
at frequent intervals 10 meet the vary.
ing demands of his economic condi-
tions. but he lives on a farm or in
a village and the house has taken the