The Oglala light. [volume], January 01, 1916, Image 31

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

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

                
Indian School Ruts
The disciplinarian or matron, who "passes up" profanity, obscen
ity, or other violations of the rules just because he or she can play
that the same were not heard or observed, is in a rut, and like the
rain-washed gully on a hill-side it will grow deeper and deeper with
time.
The employee, whatever his poistion, who knows how things
should be done much better than his superiors and never lets pass
an opportunity of advertising the fact, is in a rut. It is unfortunate,
too, that his talent should be so wasted and that he cannot bring
people to see what a really remarkable peason he is, so that he might
be placed in a position where his ability can be of use.
The head of a department who works solely for the success of
that department, without consideration for the various other branch
es of the school work, is in a rut. It is the success not of one depart
ment but of the school as a whole—and by this we mean the effects
of the school's teaching upon the pupils—that we are working for.
2he industrial teacher who requires one boy to do all the work in
which lies real training, because he can do it better and more quickly,
and another to do all the drudgery because it would take a little
time and trouble to teach him to do the more difficult task, is in a rut.
The teacher who calls upon the brighter pupils of her class to recite
every day, leaving the duller ones to their own resources, because it
is more pleasant so to do, is in a rut.
7he teacher, either industrial or academic, who cultivates the habit
of finding fault so that it becomes difficult to recognize the good traits
of his pupils when they outcrop, taking care always to point out their
faults but never their merits, is in a bad rut so also is the teacher
who brings to his classes his headaches, corns, and "grouches" take
ing care that they are fully advertised.
Finally, the worker, whatever his position, whether superintend
ent or laboror, who can see only his side of matters and who recog
nizes no one's rights, limitations, or feelings but his own, is in a rut.
—Peace Pipe.
28.