The Wrangell sentinel., 1923-01-25
(By c. w. HAWKESWORTH, Su- perintendept of Indian Schools
 for Southeastern Alaska)


 for Southeastern Alaska)
 (Reprinted from the Alaska School
 Bulletin.)
 What is the goal of education in Alaska? Lets make the answer broad one and say, It's to make 100 per cent literary standards for every one within the Territory"
 For the past two years the United States has gradually become awak- ened to the most urgent needs of more intensive application of educa- tional methods for every person who has not had the advantage ofschools.
 What caused this awakening in the United States? We'll, in the first place Americans were seeming ly satisfied in the belief that the schools of America were the best in the world; that as a nation we stood in the first place among the educated people of the earth, but when facts were presented what was the actual showing?
 Here are the facts in matters of literacy, Sweden, Norway, SwitZer- Ian, Germany, Holland, Great Brit ain, Austratralia, New Zealand, and Canada all outrank the United States. With this surprising and hu- initiating fact before the teachers and parents of the nation, practical ly every state in the Union has taken action to raise the standards of education within its own borders and Alaska must join in the progress sive move.
 When the next census of the United States is taken, which under regular order will be in 1880, can Alaska make a 100 per cent showing in matters of literacy? It is big undertaking. But we like big jobs. We have eight years in which to reach the goal, Can We do it? My answer is, "Yes, if every teacher in every citysand town and village settlement in the Territory will be- gin his year to awaken a community interest in matters of education.
 Teachers must settle for them selves that there is something aside from the qualification of the desire to See Alaska" and actually deter mine to become a vital factor in the community activities where they happen to be located.
 What are some of the methods by which this goal can be attained? l cannot. in fairness, place as first that whichshould come first in every settlement throughout the Territory for the reason that local conditions demand local considerations. But to the teacher, whose heart is in the work and who realizes that in all pioneer settlements the teacher is, of necessity, the modern mission ary." would say the organization of a Parent-Teacher Association would be about the first move for the de- velopment of a community interest in education. Nothing of practical value can be accomplished these days without organization and these con- munity gatherings. whether they art called Pr. As or go by some other name. must move around personal ity. That personality should be the teacher.
 At these community gatherings every feature of school and adult ed ucation can be expressed. The chill dren can we'll present their exercises in oral English. oral and written arithmetic, spelling. songs, dramati zations, and physical exercises Their handwork of sewing and manual training can from month to month be exhibited to the parents and friends. There is nothing which so fascinates a parent or parents neighbor as to, watch the progress of some child. And every normal adult is always interested in some child.
 Since at best there are only nine months of school n most of the com munity centers in Alaska, action must be started immediately on defi- mite. constructive, progressive month ly programs if the goal of a 100 per cent literacy standard is to be reached in 1880.
 Another organization most satis- factory for Alaskan settlements, which, as far as know, has not been tried out locally. is the Junior City, which was first organized in 1919. In speaking of the plan. one little Junior Councilwoman expressed the ',lea in a nutshell when she sad, Tt s lots more fun to learn citizenship ourselves than to have it taught us