The Kusko times., 1929-11-30


 suffrage, we must have educational opportunity for everyone.
 "The second question as to who shall control the schools has been long debated. Some maintain that education should be private enter prise; others believe that the state alone should control the educational system. There has never been any serious attempt in the United States to reach a decision in this contro- versy; therefore private schools and public schools exist side by side in mannf communities, and each indi- vidual parentn has the opportunity to decide for himself where his child shall be educated. The problem it. self, however, has been complicated in the United States by the nature of our government. We have left to local initiative and to local enter prise those activities of major con- cern to each locality. We aim to han dle nationally only such matters as cannot we'll be performed locally. Therefore we have United States army, United StSates navy, a United States foreign service; but we have state systems of schools, state systems of highways, state care for the insane, and the unfortunate, etc. As a result of this separation of powers, the United States Govern ment has had little direct concern with general education, and has ex- ercised practically no adminnistra- tive authority even in cases where federal subsidies have been granted to states to encourage education of special types.
 One noteworthy exception to this general system is found in the educa- tional system of the Territory of Alaska. The schools for the white citizens of the Territory are handled by the Territorial government much the same as the schools would be handled if the Territory had the status of state in the Uniqn. The education of the natives, however, is responsibility of the United States Government, and is administered by the Department of the Interior under direction of the United States Com missioner of Education
 "As U. s. Commissioner of Educa- tion, 1 am now ,en route to Alaska, partly for the purpose of inspecting sites proposed for a fourth indus trial schol. If Alaska is develop adequately it's own resources it's peo- pc must be trained-a principle whicr applies to the native and to the newer white population alike. If Alaskans are to raise their standard of living as residents of Continental United States have raised theirs, edu- cation and technicl trinngshrdto d d cation and technical training must be be developed as it has been developed in the States.
 But am interested in another matter even more vital. I should like to develop more Alaskan lead CTS of Alaska. It is entirely in order during pioneer period to depend upon others for help. The natives of Alaska could in the beginning learn the English language only through the hep of teachers who spoke our language natively. They could gain acquaintance with the ideals of Amer ican government only from those ed ucated in the States. They could best acquire knowledge of modern sani- tary science and scientific methods of combating disease from those who had been trained in these methods. But it seems to me that the day has arrived when Alaska should develop it's own leaders. I want to see Alas ka's children taught by Alaskan