WIN IN STOCK SHOW AT NEBRASKA STATE FAIR
Grand Championship On Duroc-Jersey Sow at Des Moines
and On Holstein Cow At Lincoln.
In addition to a number of
other prizes, the Indian School at Genoa won grand
championship on Duroc Jersey, aged sow at Des Moines, and
grand champion on Holstein cow at Lincoln. This cow and
other winning numbers of the Holstein herd were all bred and
raised at the school.
Sam B. Davis, superintendent
of the school, writes: "Cato Sells, Commissioner of Indian
Affairs, says: 'The aim of our Indian School is not the
perfect farmer and stockraiser or the perfect housewife, but
the development of character and sufficient industrial
efficiency to enable the returned boy or girl to derive
happiness and comfort from a home created by individual
efforts. This is attempted by thorough instruction in
agriculture, mechanical and domestic arts, and an adequate
knowledge of practical field and shop work.
"From results obtained in the
show ring, competing with some of the greatest dairy and
swine herds in America, it appears that the Indian School at
Genoa is developing near perfect stock raisers. An,
eighteen-year-old Indian boy fitted and exhibited the grand
champion sow. Other Indian boys deserve credit for the
winnings made by the Holstein herd. All the world knows that
the Indian is athletic, but what the people generally do not
know is that the Indian schools are developing and training
many young men and women to become teachers, clerks,
stenographers, farmers, stockraisers, mechanics, nurses,
housekeepers, seamstresses and cooks. After the pupil
finishes the sixth grade there are four years' vocational
work before he completes the course of study. All effort is
directed towards training the boys and girls for efficient
and useful lives under the conditions which they must meet
after leaving school.
"As aimless teaching never
accomplishes anything and robs pupils of valuable time, the
course of study provides for a guidance committee, which
consists of employes of mature judgment and wide study of
the nature, needs and possibilities of the student before
attempting to guide boys and girls to the best selection of
a life work. It is felt that with proper guidance and
encouragement the Indian will make rapid strides in all that
goes to develop independent, self-respecting and
self-supporting citizens. Some people never tire of asking,
'Will the Indian work?' The average Indian boy and girl love
work to about the same degree as the boy and girl of the
white race love it. The pupils at this school are proving
that the young Indian, after he is taught to do the things
as the white man believes they should be done, can
accomplish them just
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as well and as readily as his white brother. All pupils
attend the academic and industrial departments one-half day
each. The boys do all the productive work on the school farm
and in the shops. They plow and sow and harvest all the farm
products. They operate mowers, wheat and corn binders, grain
drills, ensilage cutters, build fences and other things
necessary to successful farming. Under the direction of
heads of the departments, they operate the steam heat and
electric light plant, manufacture their clothing, harness,
shoe horses and do other farm blacksmithing; make general
repairs to school plant and aid in erection of all new
buildings. The girls, under direction of heads of
departments, make all their own clothing, do the cooking and
laundering for the 425 pupils. There is an outing system
that permits girls and boys to be placed with responsible
families during vacation months. The money earned in this
way belongs to them. The boys and girls receive the going
wages. The school management has never been able to supply
more than half as many as called for each summer. Many
farmers and housewives make application for boys and girls
several months prior to vacation. That effectively answers
the question as to whether or not the Indian will work."
SAM B. DAVIS
Superintendent of the Indian School
at Genoa
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