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About The Chemawa American (Chemawa, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (June 11, 1930)
The CHEMAWA AMERICAN NEXT YEAR Another school year has gone by and we are now expectantly looking forward to the future—to the be ginning of another year—with all of its hopes and expectations for progress and advancement. On the whole, the past year has been a good one—one of the best, in some respects, in the history of the school; but we are looking forward to even better things for next year. The Interior Department Appropriation Act which was signed by President Hoover a few days ago contains the following language applicable to the Chemawa School: “Chemawa, Salem, Oregon: For seven hundred and fifty pupils, including native Indian pupils brought from Alaska, including not to exceed $1,000 for printing and issuing school paper and $5,000 to be available only for conducting extension work and short courses for adult Indians $226,250; for pay of superintendent, drayage and general repairs and improvements, $20,000; for gymnasium, including equipment, to be immediately available, $60,000; in all, $306,250: Provided, That except upon the individual order of the Secretary of the Interior no part of this appropriation shall be used for the support and education at said school of any native pupils brought from Alaska after January 1, 1925.” The language in the above Act relating to native pupils brought from Alaska practically prohibits the further enrollment of Alaskans at Chemawa. In 1925, when this law first became effective, there were 346 pupils enrolled here from Alaska, or nearly one- half of the entire enrollment at that time. Now there are less than 50 Alaskans at Chemawa, practically all of whose terms of enrollment expired a year or more ago. Most of these will be returned to Alaska during the coming summer. This will practically end the ex periment of bringing Alaskan Indians to the States to be educated in our Indian schools. The most interesting provision in the appropriation item tor Chemawa for the coming year is the one authorizing extention work and short courses for adult Indians. This is an entirely new venture and the re sults of the experiment will be awaited with interest. The purpose of the $5,000 extension work and short course item is found in a memorandum prepared by the Indian Office for the House Committee on Appro priations which reads as follows: “The purpose and aim of establishing short courses for adults and providing for extension work at the Salem School is to connect up more definitely the facilities of this large training school with the industrial and home improvement programs on the reservations. The plan contemplates selecting for the short courses men and women who have shown interest in im- pioving their farms and homes and who desire, after the sea son’s work is completed, to go to Chemawa and take a short course in dairying, gardening, horticulture, farm mechanics, etc., for men, and in cooking, sewing, home-making, house hold sanitation, child welfare, etc , tor women. To these might be added practical courses in English, letter writing, household and farm accounts, citizenship, etc. These courses would be different from the fotmal courses now being off erred to our Page 3 students, and would be specially designed to meet the needs of adults and to train them for leadership among their own people. ‘‘The extension work would consist largely in sending out small groups of advanced students and one or two instructors to assist those on the reservations in organizing their programs, club work, etc., by holding institutes, giving demonstrations in home-making, etc. ‘‘For teachers and instructors we would utilize as far as pos sible the directors of agriculture, home demonstration agents, farmers, field matrons, and other available employees on the reservations who would come to Chemaw’a with selected men and women who would enroll for the short courses. We would also seek the co-operation of the State Colleges, county agents, and other agencies that would help out in supplying teachers and demonstrators. For the first year it is not contemplated that it will be necessary to expend much money for special teachers and instructors. The idea is to begin in a small way and develop the work gradually as we succeed in securing the interest and co-operation of the Indians themselves. For the first year it is believed the sum of $5,000 will be sufficient to meet all additional expenses for books, supplies, support, and for expenses of teachers and instructors brought in to assist with the work.” For some years past it has been the firm conviction of the present superintendent of Chemawa, repeatedly expressed and emphasized, that the activities of this school should be more closely related to the needs of the Indians on the reservations, and should tie up with the industrial and home improvement and health pro grams which are being conducted in the Indian com munities from which our students come. So Che mawa hopes to broaden its scope and come into closer relationship with the Indian home and thus prove a more efficient factor in improving the economic, social and health conditions of the people it is designed to benefit and help. It is now the policy to enroll at Chemawa no pupils under 14 years of age and beginning next year no grades below the fourth will be maintained. Event ually it is hoped to have no students below junior high school grade. Severe criticism is continually being heaped upon superintendents of non-reservation Indi an schools for encouraging the separation of young children from their parents and removing them hun dreds of miles from their people and keeping them for years away from their home communities and the peo ple to whom they must, as a rule, eventually return. It is believed that such a practice has never been adopt ed for, or tolerated by, any other race of free people. It is hoped that Chemawa may be able to discontinue the practice and admit only students who are of prop er age to be separated from their people and who are large enough to take advantage of the vocational courses offered. The material plant at Chemawa is now one of the most attractive and modern in the service. New equip ment is continually being added and several new im provements are scheduled to be made during the com ing vacation months. There will probably be room for all of the eligible, worthy and ambitious students who may wish to enter Chemawa next fall, but they should get their applications in early.
