The Oglala light. [volume], March 01, 1914, Image 16

About The Oglala light. [volume] ([Pine Ridge, S.D.]) 190?-19??

Image provided by: South Dakota State Historical Society – State Archives

                
TEACHING FOR EFFICIENCY
By MISS FANNIE B. WILLIAMS, Teacher,
Oglala Training School.
CHOOLS of this class and nature are classified in the
service as "Training Schools," therefore I would
plead a little for a realization of what our name im
plies.
It is said that when a new man arrives on the
horizon in Boston it is asked, "Where was he edu
cated?" In New York it is asked, "How
much is he worth?" In Philadelphia they say,
"Who was his grandfather?"
I believe, however, that the world at large really
asks of a man, "What can he do?" The real pro­
blem before us in the Indian Service is to fit a race to take its place
in the world's activities. There felicity of expression or of operation
of school activities will never avail. Some of the Indian's faculties
are atrophied, some are latent, many are untrained and i remains
for us to bring him to a realization of himself.
Perhaps at first thought one may say training for proficiency
i s s y n o n y o u s w i a i n i n o e i i e n y a n e a i i s
synonymous but not identical and for the sake of convenience I
would like to thus discriminate and so make my points.
One of the greatest dangers in the teaching in the Indian Service
is to strive for proficiency as an end. This is a large part of the
cause of our discouragements and intermittent restlessness. Because
the pupils do not quickly become able to perform rapid calculations
or solve two and three step problems, also to intelligently handle their
text-books we are distressed.
We need to create for the pupils conditions in which and by
which they can fulfil an instinctive need. There are beating within
them impulses, cravings and purposes which need not be repressed
but on the contrary should be permitted free range and fostered for
they are the expression of the personal and racial individuality. It
16.