| OCR Text |
Show Our moral work within the educational is one of tremendous import. Our hope is in education based on character and carried along indus- .trial lines. All knowledge is in a sense God's word, whose "entrance iveth light." The rising generation of Indians is in our hands to be ielped toward the larger life which the age has prepared for us all. To this end we are endeavoring to strengthen the efficiency by insti-tuting such measures as will increase the moral purpose and the edu-cational tact of the school force. We are aiming at the unification of the Indian school svstem in all that tends to the folmation of self-supporting, ~od-fearingIn dian men and women. The new movements that are calling for the reorganization of the school systems of every nation are a&ng us. We-find that there is no orincivle within these movements that. under modification, does not apply to our work. Technical skill, which is found to be so great a factor in education, predisposing to 'Ltruthfulness of speech by the truthfulness of work," is a means we employ. We believe we can instill the "property sense" and a consciousness of the dignity of labor at the same time; that we are giving the vnpils a practical knowled.g. e of a-~ ricnlturea nd of the work req;liredin kveryaay life. There is a res onsiveness to ethical training in the Indian's soul as well as in the w? I ite man's. and when we have t a u ~ h tth e Indian the speech~of civilization and {he crafts required by hys environment he may safe1 pass from our hands to the saving power of self-support. The 1nZans themselves are now helping us. They are coming from our schools to give us in refined language in our teacher's.institutes suggestions of what will best suhserve the welfare of their The educational elements of their schools have so entered the r bpel1 eo.f their being that they naturally take their place beside us and say, "We are a unit with you in this great work." The missionary spirit is there, and with them effort "begins at home." Thus the moral growth of the Indian has even now reached the stage when its results are of practical utility, and as all races hare been saved, not so much "from error as through error," we look for-ward not so much to an "extinct race," as has been redicted, but to branch and the vine are one. a race into which the national life will have so entered tf at the engrafted PRADTICAL EDUCATION, OR LEAFSING HOW TO LIVE. Tho overshadowing importance of industrial training in our work of Indian education becomes more clear1 recognized as time passes. The theory of cramming the Indian chidwith mere book knowledge has been and for generations will be a failure, and that fact is being brought home every day to the workers in the cause of Indian re en eration. It is necessary for the child to read and write, since, in ti ese-days, .no life can be intelligently lived without these rudiments. A practical knowledge of numbers as they relate to his daily work will be most helpful; but it is not wise to spend years over subjects for which he will have no use in later life and for which he has but little taste now, when the time could be more wisely employed in acquirin skill in the industrial arts, which will also train the judgment, wif power, and all that combines to make np strength of character. The Indian must be brought to a point where he will feel the work |
