OCR Text |
Show OOMMISSIONEE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 13 The letter in part follows: I ask your special attention to the following paragraph of the declaration of policy in the administration of Indian affairs iasued on April 17, 1917. "Indian students, when they are 21 yeam of age, or over, who complete the full course of inatruction in the Government schools, receive diplomas and have demon-strated competency will be so declared." This declaration is founded upon the right and the desire of all progwive-minded Indiansto become full citizensin the land of their nativity and to be classed with other free men who enjoy the privilege of owningand controlling property, who participate in the councils of the community and the larger welfare of the State, and who exercis~ that personal initiative whichis the beginning of high destinies whether of individuals, of nations, or of races. You are in charge of one of the large and well equipped Government schools for Indian youth. Its commencement exercises will soon close the school year and the membei of its graduating class will have reached a very significant pehod in their lives. The transition from the theory and training of the clessroom to the practice and achievements of real life, from school work to worid work, applies the acid test to the pure gold of every student's character and attainments. The Indian boys and girls have been at some natural disadvantage but have enjoyed some unusual opportunities. They have had, and now more than ever have, educa-tional privileges superior to those in many of the schools for white children. They have been provided not only with good academic training but with excellent vocational courses calmdated to fit them for successful home-making, for healthful and prudent domestic life, and for the efficient pursuit of agriculture, of many of the mechanical trades and some of the skilled manual arts and crafts. There must, therefore, be in every Indian scllaol giving the full courses a. very con-siderable number of graduates this year who have improved their opportunities and have acquired such a practical education as d l re asonably enable them to enter some remimerative occupation and make their way successfully with those engaged in the pursuits of our modern life. To every such capable young man and woman ehould he given a certificate of competency or a patent in fee, as authorized by law and the new "Declaration of policy in the administration of Indian affairs," attesting the faith of the United States in their ability and determination to prove worthy of this recog-nition. It is not intended to declare every graduating student competent to handle his own affaim, but to select those who are 21 yeara of age and who by their conduct through the years of instruction have profited by wise discipline and shown that they posse= the qudities of scholarship and character that fit them for responsibility and competition. To these graduates you will have the happy privilege on the day you hand them diplomaa to give them s.1.80 this declarstion of their independence. It should be to them the Mama Charta of their freedom from the restraints not imposed uwn other citizens of our country, and in thus grantingit I know you will fully r~pr e a eum~e with yournelf in the hope that no recipient will ever strive for lees than the most honorable and loyal fuljillmint of ~me r i c i nci tizenship. I am sure that you thoroughly sppre-ciate the importance of this emancipating movement and that upon all appropriate occssiona vou will i m ~ miat8 si-rm ificance U-Don v.our s tudent bodv as the bri"g ht -"1 of their who01 training, to the end that all pupils shall not only resolve to complete a full c o r n but t h t eraduation for them will be incomplete unless it earns such a certificate of competency. The uniform course of study was not introduced until February 1, , 1916. Hence, there was not time for aU of the schools giving the full courses to cover the required work and prepare students for |