6
THE
CHEM AW A AM ERICAN
T IIE I N D I A N E X H I B I T
Among the many fine exhibits at the Western Montana fair, none
have occasioned more favorable comments than that of the Flathead
Indians. Under the management of Superintendent Morgan, the Flat-
heads have installed an agricultural exhibit that in itself will discount
the average county fair.
The showing made of the products of Indian farmers is highly cred
itable to the Indians. The exhibit of Indian handicraft is both inter
esting and artistic.
The time and money spent by the Officials of the Indian Bureau in
assembling this truly creditable exhibit is to be commended. It is not
only a demonstration of what the Indians can and will do, when given
proper encouragement, but it is an incentive to them for doing still
better thing.—The Missoulian, Missoula, Montana.
E D U C A T IO N F O R T H E I N D I A N
Ten years from this date, or at the most twenty years from now, the
Indians of the United States may far outstrip millions of the white
population in the matter of practical education. It may seem a bold
and preposterous statement at this time, but the education of the In
dian is being accomplished most successfully.
A report on the course of study outlined for the United States Indian
schools, as prepared under the direction of Commissioner Cato Sells,
shows that vocational training is strongly emphasized—more strongly
than in the general school systems of the different states. The training
is divided into three stages, the beginning stage, the finding stage and
the finishing stage.
Indian boys are required to take practical courses in farming, garden
ing, dairying, carpentering, blacksmithing, engineering, masonry, shoe
and harness repairing, while the girls must take thorough courses in
home cooking, sewing, laundering, nursing and kitchen gardening.
These courses are uniform throughout all the Indian schools.
During the vocational courses the correct amounts of academic work
are given and the Indian youth comes out of school fitted for the real
struggle of life. That wonderful progress is being made is no longer
to be doubted. Visitors to the Oklahoma State Fair and Exposition in
this city stood in wonder before the exhibits made by the Indian schools
in this State, and doubtless the schools in other states have made the
same advancement.
Commissioner Sells had only such material as nature had provided