THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
H. E. WADSWORTH, Superintendent
VOLUME J7 JUNE, 1915 NUMBER 9
OUR INDIAN SCHOOLS AS I SEE THEM
BY V. Tj. TAYIjOR, Assistant Superintendent and Principal of Salem
Indian Trainiug School
Article II
N our introductory article we endeavored to bring out
the idea that upon the teaching force, both vocational
and academic, rests the success of the Indian work.
In this article we desire to discuss some methods for
improving the teaching force.
Any force of employees in any business or work
may, under suitable supervision, be greatlr improved.
The degree of improvement will depend almost whollv on the nature
and aims of the supervision, and the hope of suitable recognition, either in
carrying out some cherished design, in promotion, or pecuniary reward.
This rule applies with peculiar force to our Indian schools. Hence,
whatever plans are proposed, if they are to become of permanent value,
they must appeal to some of these motives, and the more of these that may
be included the more effective our appeal. The fear of punishment,
while we have known of several instances where it was richly merited, is
not to be considered as really a method for improving the force.
In the public schools under state control where less supervision is
absolutely demanded than in our Indian schools, careful students esti
mate that one-twelfth of the money expended in any system, may be
spent with profit in suitable supervision; showing the high estimate
placed on efficient supervision by expert judges. The responsibility
for the proper supervision of our local schools should rest almost wholly
with the local supervisor or superintendent. This authority must not
be merely nominal, but must be real and fully exercised by the superin
tendent. Personally, we believe that he should have considerable lati
tude in selecting his employees from a list furnished under proper regula
tions. There is no question but that some of our superintendents are