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About The Chemawa American (Chemawa, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (June 7, 1933)
CHEM AWA<)AMERIC AN 11 Printed at Chemawa, Oregon, and Devoted to the Interests of Indian Education VOL. XXXIV i ' Mi WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 1933 CHEMAWA CLOSES SUCCESSFUL YEAR ' 'J By J ames T. R yan , 'Superintendent The Salem Indian School has just finished its most successful year, having graduated 72 students and hav ing placed forty of them in satisfactory positions. The placement of these children at first looked extremely difficult because of the economic situation but each graduate has proven to be an excellent advertisement resulting in the placement of other students. The thirty vocations constituting the practical edu cation provided at Chemawa are mostly well chosen to ‘fit persons for activities in which there is opportunity. Welding is one occupation which has grown faster than men have been trained to carry on the work. Training for men cooks is another field which seems to offer unusual opportunity in the northwest. The boys who formerly have taken auto mechanics have changed their training desire to that of car servicing, which field offers a much better opportunity for place ment here. Chemawa has made a definite effort to provide train ing which fits the aptitudes and abilities of its students, but the school realizes in the long trek of advancement as students progress in life many changes will be made by individuals as opportunities open up. This in no way lessens the value of the education which has been provided, for education is always given with the in tention of opening the way to success. To attempt to provide vocational education so perfect that it would eliminate the necessity of self-education after employ ment is absurd as is also any idea of training persons so that they will adhere to a specific vocation through out life. The advent of new conditions, new interests or avocations may interfere with such a scheme. The problem in the life of graduates is initial employment. After they have once secured such a position and have become self-sustaining, a new confidence is born and much of their fear is vanished. Probably no one thing has interfered with the progress of young Indian man hood and womanhood as much as failure on initial employment fully to fit into the picture. This is a result partly of inadequate vocational preparation but just as important as the need for proper adjustment in other ways. If the individual is to remain the “Si lent Indian”, who takes no part in conversations, he will find it hard to fit in even though his intelligence may be high. Conversation is a means of getting ac quainted. Chemawa students soon overcome this ti NO. 19 midity because of the friendly spirit here and in Salem. For with this improvement in vocational preparation a new interest has been born, an interest based on a feeling of mastery that they will be able to compete at the white man’s game. This in itself is a remedy for many past problems of Indian education. COMMENCEMENT, 1933 Chemawa is almost deserted again after closing its 53rd year of service to the young Indians of the north west hy graduating the biggest and best trained group of students in its history. The commencement activ ities were impressive and will remain in the memories of those who participated and observed for many years to come. Chemawa and the graduates were especially fortunate this year in the choice of speakers. No graduating group ever listened to more fitting or helpful words than those uttered from the platform of the auditorium by the speakers this year. The first event or. the Commencement program was the annual Senior supper at which all the members of the graduating class were royally entertained by the junior girls at the Wigwam. This was on the evening of Thursday, May 18. On the following afternoon Chemawa defeated Molalla in baseball, 6-7. That evening all attention was given to another annual event, the Senior Night. At this program the law yers, prophets, musicians, poets and wits of the grad uating class held forth. The regular bi-weekly dance was enjoyed on Saturday night. On Sunday, May 21, the Baccalaureate exercises were given. Rev. Father Alcuin, o. s. b ., president of Mount Angel college, gave the address. The au dience of young people, their parents, faculty and friends sat in hushed attention as he laid down the principals of right living and thinking. He made a wonderful impression on the students and did much good by his visit. The program as a whole was fine. It is reprinted below: Processional________________________________________ Orchestra America the Beautiful {/¡ales') --------- School Invocation Suite {Gluck)_________________________________ Orchestra Anthem—Hark, Hark My Soul (Shelly) ------------------------ Choir Address________________________ Rev. Father Alenin, o. S. B. Chemawa Song________________________________________ School Benediction Recessional________________________________________ Orchestra (Continued on page 4)
