The Word Carrier of Santee Normal Training School (Santee, Nebraska), 1930-01 - 1930-02

              the Word Carrier
OF
SANTEE NORMAL TRAINING SCHOOL.
VOLUME   LIX
HELPING THE   RIGHT, EXPOSING THE WRONG
NUMBER  1
SANTEF, NEBRASKA.
Jan.-Feb., 1930
FIFTY CENTS PER YEAR
Our   Platform
Kor Indians we want American Education!
We want AniericaiiHomes! We want American Rights! The result of which is American
Citizenship! And the Gospel is the Power of
God for their Salvation !
Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs
The cost of Indian education and care of
health obviously must exceed that of similar
services amongst the white population, yet
heretofore the appropriations, particularly
for food, clothing, and vocational training,
have never been adjusted to postwar costs.
PERSONNEL
The requirements for qualification for civil-service examinations for teaching positions have been made more difficult and the
educational standards for the position of principal have been raised. Now the possession
of a degree is a prerequisite for examination
and appointment to this position for persons
not already in the service.
health
There has been progress in the general
medical work of the service during the year.
The Indian people are increasingly responding
to their medical needs; that is to say, an increasing number of Indians are seeking appropriate relief for medical and surgical conditions.
Trachoma, tuberculosis, and diseases of infancy and childhood continue to constitute
the outstanding health problem affecting the
several Indian jurisdictions.
EDUCATION   AND   CIVILIZATION   OF  THE
AMERICAN  INDIANS
In checking over the cost of food for subsistence of Indian children in the Government
boarding schools during the year, it has been
found that this cost averaged 20 cents per
pupil per day, of which 14 cents represented
expenditure from the support funds of the
schools, and 6 cents the value of food produced at the school. During the year emphasis was again directed to the inadequacy
of the food ration and a committee was appointed to consider this question. The committee after careful study,  found   that
the minimum cost to provide a proper diet for
Indian school children would be 40 cents per
pupil. Efforts are being made in connection
with the budget for the fiscal year 1931 to
secure through legislative action appropriations which will be sufficient to meet these
requirements.
It appears that the Indian children in the
Government schools are, on an average, about
2 years older than the normal age-grade standard Intelligence tests   conducted   have
shown an intelligence quotient of 100 for Indian children, as compared with 114 for white,
which difference would probably lessen somewhat with increase of education. It is clearly
apparent, however, that differences exist between differeent Indian tribes or communities
as to capacity for assimilation of knowledge
or training. Therefore, any plan of schooling,
theoretical or vocational, should not be rigid
but adjusted to the capacities and tendencies of
given cases.
It has appeared advisable to expend funds
for enlargement of some schools in order to
provide additional facilities for children who
have been without school opportunities. However, with the expectation that the State public schools will absorb gradually an increasing number of Indian children, it is believed
that any general program of enlargement may
cease.
EMPLOYMENT  FOR  INDIANS
The aim usually is a permanert occupation
for the young man or woman but temporary
or seasonal employment for the adult. An
experience of more than 100 years forces the
conclusion that the civilization of the Indian
will not be effected until changes are brought
about in the isolation and customs of the remaining reservations and all Indians must
live in close contact with the white communities.
INDUSTRIAL   ACTIVITIES
Preliminary reports indicate that there has
been a substantial increase in the number of
Indians farming and the cultivated acrtage
on nearly all the reservations.
Indians to Be Trained for Work Along
Lines of Natural Aptitude
In the success which the Indian has had in
weaving colorful rugs and carving silver
jewelry to be sold in great amounts to western
tourists, Dr. Ray Lyman Wilbur, Secretary
of the Interior sees the rudiments of a solution
of the "Indian problem."
The Indian has proved himself an excellent
workman, especially dexterous with his hands.
He has shown ability to learn a trade. Weaving he learned from the Spaniards; silversmith
ing he picked up from the Mexicans. What
he has lacked has been an opportunity of learning a trade and of being permanently employed at it, long enough to make him self-sufficient.
Dr. Wilbur has therefore asked Congress
for a greatly increased appropriation for the
Office of Indian Affairs in order that there
may be established a definite organization to
help the Indian find permanent employment.
It is planned to have an experienced employment agent on each reservation and at each
non-reservation school as well as concentrated
supervision at Washington. The employment
service of the Department of Labor is to cooperate with the Indian Office, according to
present plans.
Appointment of Miss Mary Stewart as
assistant director of education for the Indian
service marked the first step in laying plans
for a change of emphasis in Indian education
so as to stress vocational courses.
Several years ago a campaign was started
for the adoption of a five-year program that
would show each Indian some definite and
worth-while result at the end of that period
of endeavor. A personal survey to determine
the resources and needs of each family now
has been made on most of the reservations.
—Christian Science Monitor-
The Death of a Santee Graduate
We thank Rev. A. F. Johnson for writing
us:     "One of your good girls has just gone,
Virginia Benjamin.     She came from a good
! home, and was a worthy representative of the
| efficient training of Santee.     Mary Virginia
, Benjamin Renville graduated from Santee in
the class of 1923 and died at Peever, So. Da-
I kota Nov. 24, 1929, aged twent.y-seven.    Dur-
| ing the school year of 1925-1926 she was girls'
J matron in the Pipestone Government school,
| Pipestone,  Minnesota, and the next year she
j was part time girls' matron in the Wahpeton,
North Dakota, Government school; and went
from there to be girls' matron in the Flan-
reau Government school, but was married to
Herbert Renville.    Her mother has adopted
her seven months old baby, Vilbert Benjamin
Renville. 	
Santee Alumni Association
At Bridger, South Dakota the Santee Alumni Association has   elected new officers and
i they are: Rev. Ben Brave president, Jonah
| Highhawk secretary, Miss Minnie Blackmoon
treasurer.
Indians Show Farm Progress
Indians living on the Pine Ridge reservation
in South Dakota have made remarkable progress in agricultural work in the last few
years Frank D. Kriebs, state secretary of
agriculture, said today in a survey of activities on the reservation.
Grain and livestock raising, 4-H club work
and home-making were listed among the accomplishments being taught the Indians by E.
W. Jermark, superintendent for the last six
years. The Pine Ridge reservation is located
in Shannon, Washington, Bennett and Wash-
abaugh counties, and. covers an area of 4,500
square miles, or 3,000,000 acres.
"The reservation is divided into seven districts," Mr. Kriebs explained, "each of which
is supervised by a 'boss farmer' who lives in
that particular section and works under the
agency management. In the administration
building at the agency, there is a large room
where each district has a booth in which to
display its products.   ..
"For the last four years, prizes have been
given for the best exhibit, which has stimulated great interest among the Indians, who do
all the work. - These displays will compare
favorably with those of some of our best
county fairs.
"One of thefinest herds of Hereford cattle
in South Dakota, composed of 185 head, and
40 head of Holstein milk cows, are on this reservation. The milk ' production from the
Holsteins for the first half of November,
taken from the daily report shows an average of 3791 gallons—nearly four gallons
a cow."
. Superintendent Jermark has organized the
8,000 adults into community clubs, with
white men and women at the head of the organizations, Mr. Kreibs related. He said
many of the 2,300 Indian school chidren had
been interested in 4-H club work, and that
eight boys and girls clubs are organized and
doing creditable work.
The men are taught farming and proper
care and use of machinery, tiie secretary of
agriculture said. The women are taught how
to keep their homes tidy, the care of children,
what to do in emergency sickness, how to
bake bread, pies and cakes, how to can vegetables, and how to make jellies and preserves.
The exhibit of their handiwork shows they
have been successful in learning modern home-
making methods, Mr. Kriebs said.
"Six years ago,"he continued, "this Indian
land was rented for twenty-five cents an acre.
Now most of it is renting for $1 an acre.
The size of the Indian school can be realized
when it is known that it takes 1,600 pounds
of beef, 75 bushels of potatoes and 2,200
pounds of flour each week to provide necessary meals for the children attending. The
best ot teachers are provided, selected under
civil service examinations from all parts of
the United States. An annual teachers institute is held, the same as in all counties of the
state.
"With a $50,000 fund  provided  by  the
• federal   government,   substantial   two-room
' frame  cottages are being built for Indians
who wish them.    This home costs the Indian
; $500, which he pays as he is able.    Part of
their land is used for security, and a small
interest charge is made.    A regular banking
business is conducted  for  the Indians, the
' bank having about 4,000 accounts.  Thus the
j Indian is taught to save and learns the white
man's financial methods."
Mr. Kriebs predicted that progress mad'i
by the reservation Indians would add materially to the development in South Dakota, and
urged citizens to visit this section of the
state.—Aberdeen American.