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About The Chemawa American (Chemawa, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 16, 1935)
CHEMAWA ® AMERICAN Printed, at Chemawa, Oregon, and Devoted to the Interests of Indian Education VOL. XXXVI WEDNESDAY. JANVARttô^«^; j ~ NO. 8 T DEVELOPING SCHOOL LEADERSHIP In the progress of Chemawa students one of the most necessary steps is to assist and urge them to help themselves—to take the initiative in affairs con nected with their school life. If they can be induced to become active for the betterment of conditions at school it follows naturally that they will be interested in community, state and national affairs after they leave their alma mater. This will figure largely in their welfare and all-around independence later in life. It will teach them self-reliance, which must always be developed before there can be hope for any real success. Many of our students show ability along these lines and it is a reassuring sign. Chemawa fosters many organizations of various kinds which are organized largely by the students themselves and conducted by them practically unassisted. This should be, and is, an ambition with them and it affords an opportunity to develop leadership, thought and action. The very fact that results depend upon the students themselves forces upon them the importance of success and renders them anxious to excell. It re quires thought and energy to back up an ambition and here is found a field for them to test ability and see just where they stand—just how much or how lit tle ability they possess. Here is a chance for analysis. Not alone do our student organizations afford op portunities for testing leadership, for there is also to be considered the necessity of co-operation in putting things over, and in this, too, the chance for a test is afforded. It is necessary in nearly all important af fairs to have a leader, but it is also necessary that the majority learn to co-operate, to “follow the leader.” The “get-together” spirit is the co-operative spirit and along this line we find much to commend on the part of the students at Chemawa. The qualities of constructive leadership and co-operation have the ef fect of eliminating the desire to “just drift along” and awakens and accelerates an ambition to acquire the ability to get on in the world. A drifting-along-from day-to-day pace, a too-self satisfied policy, is a poor way to go through school and can bring no results worth while. It is only by being wide-awake to the opportunities afforded for advancement that the way will be opened for better and higher things. This is true and it holds good as long as life continues. Industry backed by intelli- .-de^l^ps a natural quality of both leadership and co-operation, brings independence of both thought and action in the better sense, and clears away the obstacles on the road to success. Once started—and the earlier in life the better—it is necessary to keep up the pace. The Indian students who really make good, the winners everywhere, in any line of endeavor, are the ones who never abandon their task, no matter how difficult, until it has been satisfactorily completed. The ones who tire too easily or are “chicken hearted” never get far before they lose out, for some progres sive and forceful aspirant for success will push them aside and take their places from them. They have no stamina, no heart, no fight. The prizes worth while are invariably secured by those who go after them cour ageously; this applies to student life as aptly as to any other phase of being. In this, as in other things, the quitter cannot hope to win. We are forced to admire the fellow whose whole being radiates good. He is certain to wield power of the right sort among his associates. He inspires confidence and is in the best sense a leader, whether he realizes it or not. His influence is certain to be felt. Such people can be found everywhere, but this would be a better world if they were plentiful. There are such leaders in every school and we are happy to state that Chemawa has many of them. Choose your leader wisely—do not follow one of a corrupt influence for in the latter case you will receive and merit the contempt of all good people. Consider all things on their merit and you may be come a leader. Say “no” when things are wrong. Do not fear ridicule—scorn it, when you are certain you are right. Be brave enough to stand the mo mentary taunts of your companions—it never pays to compromise on things you know to be right. Do your own thinking whether you are a leader or being led. Too much emphasis cannot be placed upon the ne cessity of taking every advantage of all opportunities to form correct habits, for without good habits you cannot hope to achieve any desirable end. Real suc cess is not won in a moment—it comes usually as the result of long and unrelenting pursuit of some praise worthy objective.—Reprint from a 1930 American. Subscribe to the A merican —50c per annum.
