The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1961-12-07
Report Of Task Force On Indian Affuirs
OFFICIAL REPORT

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The Task Force favors the es-
Enlistment of public school dis
tricts on Indian reservations and
the ultimate transfer Of the Blu
reau's educational responsible
ties 10 these districts. Where dis
tricts have inadequate tax money
TO finance a sound school pro-
gram. the Federal Government
should provide a financial sub
sidy. Furthermore, il is unrealis-
tic TO assume that the States are
going 70 establish more reserva-
ton districts so long as the school
plants which would be transfer
red 10 them by the Bureau are
in poor condition. In order TO
expedite its program of getting
public schools on reservation
lands. the Federal Government
must improve the physical plants
in which many Indian children
are now receiving their educa.
ton and must also construct new
school buildings. Furthermore,
IL must improve the roads so that
Indian children may be bussed
TO these schools. This will elimi-
nate the need for boarding facili.
ties and bring the Federal Indian
school program more into line
with that of the States.
In connection with the estab.
lishment Of school districts on
Indian reservations. the Bureau
must make a greater effort 10
involve Indian parents in school
planning. The Task Force is not
satisfied that simply encourag.
ing tribes 10 form educational
committees is sufficient. The par
ents of youngsters attending
schools must be allowed to par
ticipate in the formulation of
school programs. Wherever par
ent-teacher groups have not been
formed, they should be estab-
iished as rapidly as possible.
When parents understand what
the schools are trying TO accomp-
lish, they are more likely to give
their support 10 the educational
effort than when they do not. IL
our goal is the ultimate transfer
of educational responsibility to
local school districts, then the
Bureau must do everything ii
can now TO help Indian parents
learn Of their rights and duties
with respect 10 schools. The time
TO begin providing them such as
sistance is not after the transfer.
but before.
Where Federal schools contin-
ue TO operate on Indian reserva.
tons, the Bureau should insist
that children Of Government EN-
ployees attend these schools
along with the Indian youngsters
When the BIA. on the one hand
strongly advocates the integra-
ton of Indian and non-Indian
youngsters in the public schools
and, on the other, permits segre-
CATION through discouraging nom
Indians from enrolling in schools
which IL maintains, its policies
appear inconsistent.
Since one Of the major prob
lens in educating Indian young
sters stems from the fact that
English is often not their home
language, the Bureau has the i'm
portant responsibility of keeping
abreast Of the latest develop
ments in language training and
instructing its educational per
sonnet in these procedures. An
in-Seryice training program Is
essential in this area and should.
wherever possible, be conducted
In conjunction with the UNIVERSE
ties and colleges located nearby.
In such States as Arizona and
New Mexico. the State teachers
colleges have been dealing with
problems related TO language
training for observation-disclosures
and Indians for many years, and
doubtless. have courses, semi
mars and workshops Of great po-
tential value 70 Bureau educa-
ton personnel
Finally, because Of the many
problems peculiar TO Indian edu-
cation, and because policies have
been changing rapidly. the Task
Force recommends that an indie
pendent education survey be
made. Such a survey should in
clude not merely formal school
work, but the impact OF the
changing policies on the com
munity and the children. II
should preferably be conducted
by Independent research team.
although the help Of the Blu
reau's Branch Of Education will
certainly be required. Authority
for such a study already exists
under 20 Stat. 53I. enacted by
Congress on July, 1856.
LAW AND ORDER
Public Law 280 Of the 83rd
Congress conferred Jurisdiction
with respect 10 criminal and civil
causes Of action on the States Of
California, Minnesota, Nebraska,