Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 January 1902 — Educating Young Indians. [ARTICLE]

Educating Young Indians.

The work of educating young Indians in the West is at times difficult, but it is seldom dull. If the teachers must confess to a feeling of doubt as to their success with boys bearing such names as Daniel Red Eyes and AndrewYellow Thunder, they can at least console themselves with the fact that the correction of “compositions” is more diverting than in some Eastern schools. The superintendent of the Lemhi Reservation in Iddho is Mr. Mackey. He has preserved proofs of his pupils’ work In English, in The form of various essays written by the Indian boys, and in several notes of excuse. Here is Daniel Red Eye’s idea of the school in which he is a pupil: “We learn how work In garden, and cut wood, make fence and many bard tyork. The girls in hous sew and wash dress and cooking dinner. 1 don’t like go to school because my father he tell me I don’t want to go to school. That all I have to say or want to say about a school.” Daniel had a reasonably good opinion of himself, as this excuse, sent to bis teacher, indicates: “I wish you excuse me this afternoon. My horse all run away yesterday evening and I didn’t find. I hunting my horse this afternoon. Well. I guess that all I toll you about. Your good boy, Daniel Red Eyes.” Rather more promising Is the attitude of young Mr. Yellow Thunder, who expreses contrition for a fault: “Dear Teacher, 1 am sorry that I ran away from school yesterday, but 1 was crazy boy. I will copie to school Monday and not run away any more. Andrew Yellow Thunder.” So, In spite of truants and runaway*, and the various vexations of school tdAChing In a wild country, the good work goes on, and the reward is happily not confined to a mere sense of duty performed.