The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-10-08
'SUPT. MOTE SEEKS
new music TEA
FOR INDIAN SCHOOL
Incoming Head Plans Other De-
v~elopments; Awaits Enlarg-
ing of Quarters

Musical training is to be restored
at the Indian school as o as
Sharon r. Mote, the new superin-
tendent, can make arrangements
with a teacher Of ability, such as his
predecessor, Superintendent G. B.
Dickinson, had with Madame Her
mann Scheffer.
The school has been hard hit by
the departure Of Madame Scheffer
and the Peltier sisters. The latter
were among the leading talent Of the
institution in singing and dramatics
and dancing.
Sooneof the first matters to occupy
Superintendent Mote will be to re-
store to normal the musical situation
at the school. He Is now negotiating
with q recognized teacher who pro-
poses to locate here.
In addition to vocal training, su-
perintendent Mote has In mind the
possibility Of organizing an orchestra.
At other schools where he has served,
there were both boys and girls or
chestras and he feels, he said, that
the Bismarck school has the material
for developing q fine instrumental
organization.
Bismarck Students High Grade
Speaking Of this musical ability III
the local school, Superintendent Mote
today said also that the general
standard Of the girls Is far above the
average. He said he noted this some
years ago. when at Pierre, 8. D. The
Bismarck school sent a team to the
Indian school competitions in music,
speaking and other scholastic fea-
lures and the girls outshone the dele
cations from other places, in his
opinion. They showed splendid poise,
confidence and scholarship, he said.
superintendent Mote has not been
here long enough to develop plans
for improvement Of the school. For
the present, he said, he is occupying
himself in keeping the institution up
to the high level 1t attained under the
administration Of MI. Dickinson.
However, he has come to realizs
that the school would be well served
by some minor innovations. It could
use a carpenter, he said. At present
there is no such person on the per-
sonnet to make repairs and keep up
the material condition Of the plant.
He thinks also, he said, that an in
structor in physical training would
be a valuable addition to the staff.
He also would prefer to have q music
teacher on pay instead Of teaching on
individual remuneration, as Madame
Scheffer did.
Favors High School Course
The school also should be put on
a high school basis with q four years
course, he fells, and he hopes that
the agitation for this, which began
while the Dickinsons were here, will
ultimately. bring this development
about. The school now is on a ninth
grade basis.
There also Is a lack Of certain IA
cilities at the school, he finds. There
are. for instance, only Two class
rooms. Some Of the classes have to
be heard in the gymnasium and
others In the dormitories. Quarters
also are scant for the size Of the per-
sonnet, he said. In part this will be
remedied as soon as the proposed
new domestic science cottage Is built.
The school has an appropriation of
$1,000 for this and by next spring
construction probably will begin.
This will release the present cottage
for use as quarters. +
Was Governor In Islands
The new superintendent has had
long experience in the Indian schools
and before that in teaching. Like his
predecessor. he taught In the Philip
pines, serving as superintendent of
1gorrote schools inMountain province,
Luzon, and also - governor Of that
province. He went over to the islands
In 1907, but, at the outbreak of the
World war, returned home and en-
tered the infantry. Subsequently,
owing to his teaching qualifications,
he was assigned to the air service as
teacher and was located ct Kelly
field, San Antonio, and Camp Dick,
Dallas, ~instructing cadets and pilots
In the air service. He is a member
Of the American Legion, which he
Joined at Piqua, Ohio, near which
city he was born.
In the Indian school service he
served three years as assistant super
intendent at Haskell Institute, Law
renee, Kansas. four years Is superin-