86 ALASKA FISHERIES AND FUR INDUSTRIES IN 1918. 
people living in an aboriginal manner and without knowledge of 
American institutions into useful citizens of the country must 
necessarily be a slow process. Many persons whose acquaintance 
with them lasts but the brief period of one or two years are apt to 
become discouraged and give up hope of any material change for the 
better. When it is remembered, however, that all progress which 
has been made to the present time has occurred in comparatively 
few years, it must be admitted that the work of the teachers has been 
splendid. 
There are many handicaps in their way, yet it appears that these 
are being overcome in the best possible manner. It is the purpose 
to create a community of a eth ape people with all the 
knowledge which is required of the best American citizen. The 
reatest obstacle to this is the fact that the people speak the Aleut 
anguage in their homes. Some of the older ones, who had little or 
no opportunity to attend the schools, have little knowledge of the 
English language. The children arein English-speaking surroundings 
(school room) a very short time, yet many of them are able to speak 
and write on any of the subjects which come within their purview; 
so it becomes clear that the English language can be established in 
the short period of about one generation in a locality where another 
language is used exclusively. 
Another thing which hinders progress of the children in school is 
the lack of textbooks which would be most suited to their eee 
but this can not be overcome, because books which would be best 
adapted to the north are not in existence. The people of the Pribilof 
Islands have never seen most of the articles upon which the text of 
elementary class books is based. Hence a great deal of improvisa- 
tion must be resorted to by the teacher. 
C. E. Crompton, school-teacher on St. George Island during the 
winter of 1917-18, has analyzed the problem very carefully. The 
following quotations from his report will throw further light thereon: 
The children were obedient, as polite and well mannered as they knew, and the 
schoolroom in general always presented a neat and well-ordered appearance. Un- 
cleanliness was exceptional, and no criticism was made except in the case of two 
families, who were already noted for being the most backward in the community. 
The greater number of the children take school and its work quite seriously, and 
although this tendency was not deterred, an effort was made to encourage them in 
play. This they do not know how to do, and when opportunity was offered they 
were shown simple little games, how to make toys of paper and wood, and various 
other ways of amusing themselves. This, of course, was outside of school hours. 
The pupils are tractable, good natured, supersensitive, and responsive to good 
treatment, and it is felt that they try to do right most of the time. This is true of 
the normal adult Aleut as well. ; 
The methods of instruction in general were the same as those in force during the 
Preceding term, and they were found quite satisfactory. It is believed that the 
system of teaching which is now in vogue in the island schools is admirably suited 
to the needs and capabilities of the children, and will produce excellent results if 
continued through a period of years. Written work was required in all classes; such 
work had to be reasonably neat and no copying was permitted. The papers were 
in most cases made out with pencil, corrected by the teacher or by the pupils in class, 
and returned to the owners that they might know their. mistakes. 
No strict rules are adhered to in the advancement of the pupils. They go forward. 
as individuals whenever their work warrants the step; never before. With this plan 
in operation, no bright pupil is held back because of dull ones in his class. 
One of the greatest drawbacks to the school work was the haste with which classes 
had to be handled in order to hear them all within the school day. This condition 
must invariably result when children of all ages resort to the same schoolroom. 
