P r i n t e d a t C h e m a w a , O r e g o n , a n d D e v o t e d to t h e I n t e r e s t s o f I n d i a n E d u c a t i o n
Vol. X IX
W ednesday, March 21, 1917
No. 23
K E E P TH E PACE
DO YO UR OW N T H IN K IN G
One of the most encouraging features in the prog
ress of Chemawa students is a tendency to reach out
and take the initiative in things connected with the
school. This one tendency means much in their ulti
mate independence. Independence and self-reliance
must always be cultivated before success can be
reached, and many of our students are taking steps
in that direction.
The various organizations at Chemawa are largely
organized by the students themselves and run by them
alone. This is an ambition with them and gives them
an opportunity to use their own individuality and to
develop independence of thought and action. The
fact that results depend upon the students give them
a sense of the importance of success and renders them
ambitious to excel. There is quite a field for them to
exert their powers and it requires some nerve and en
ergy to back up an ambition. T he “ get together”
spirit among the larger students at Chemawa is fine,
which promotes cultivation of the qualities of self-
reliance and individuality and prompts them to reach
out for things worth while. It has the effect of elimi
nating a desire to drift along with no high purpose in
view, and accelerates an ambition to acquire the ability
to get on in the world. A self-satisfied, drifting-along-
from-day-to-day pace, is a poor way of going through
school and one which is of no advantage in the end.
But to be wide awake to the opportunities for advance
ment will open higher endeavors and render the in
dependence of thought gained thereby, as well as the
quality of being able to take the initative, a stepping
stone to complete success. Keep up the pace!
There are leaders in every school. This is due to
some one’s personality or attraction. We admire the
fellow whose influence is felt thus for good, but con
demn the one who bears a wrong influence; and for
the ones who follow a leader against their own desires
we have only contempt. The best way to guard
against ourselves at all times is to do our own th in k
ing and act in accordance therewith. It has been
very noticeable in schools like ours that a goodly num
ber of the students do not have the courage to stand
among their fellows for their own convictions. They
fear being called odd, or eccentric, and are not brave
enough to stand the momentary taunts of their com
panions. But this question must appeal to us: Does
it pay in the long run? Do your own thinking.
W IN N E R S
The winners everywhere, in any line of work, the
Indian students who really make good, are the ones
who never abandon their task, no matter how difficult,
until it is finished right. The ones who tire easily
and are quickly discouraged have neither heart nor
strength to carry the task to completion. The prizes
and the things worth while are invariably secured by
the students who do not “ q u it” before completing a
job properly, and whose only idea of doing is to do it
all, and right.
R E L IA B IL IT Y
The first and foremost quality desirable in a student
is that of being dependable. Unless the student is
the sort to carry out directions to the best of his abili
ty, he is practically doomed to failure. He may not
be a fast workman, he may be ignorant as to the prop
er method of working. These requisites can be
learned, and it is our business as instructors to train
students, but if he is unreliable, a shirk, and requires
a task-master to give personal oversight to keep him
at his job, he bids fair to take his place among the
rubbish of the world, for unless he shows a disposi
tion to help himself in the industrial work, even
though he may be apt at learning, the time and money
spent on him is wasted, and such waste betokens afi
unsuccessful career, not only while at school, but al
ways. Too much emphasis cannot be put on the
necessity of taking every advantage of opportunities
to form correct habits, and the habit of being depend
able is without doubt so essential in the education of
our Indian youth that it calls for the highest loyalty
of all. In fact it is the primary duty of every in
structor to inculcate this fundamental need con
stantly. It is the principle on which success rests,
and the American cannot urge our students too
strongly to accept responsibility, to be true to them
selves, to work for construction of character and re
liability. It is by reference to these qualities that
an adequate basis for a successful life can be main
tained.