The Indian Bureau's adult education program, now getting under way in five tribal areas from Florida to Idaho, will be extended "to meet the broader needs of Indians as funds permit and as the interests of the Indians indicate," Commissioner Glenn L. Emmons indicated today.
Mr. Emmons’ comment was made in response to a resolution adopted February 25, by the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona representing 11 tribal groups of that State. In the resolution the intertribal group urged that the Bureau “be respectfully requested to plan, and the Congress of the United States be respectfully urged to appropriate special funds for the support of, adult education programs for all Arizona tribes."
In a letter of April 12, 1956 addressed to Clarence Wesley, San Carlos Apache president of the Arizona Council, Commissioner Emmons outlined the current status of the adult education program which is under way among the Seminoles of Florida, Rosebud Sioux of South Dakota, Papago of Arizona, Turtle Mountain Chippewa of North Dakota, and Shoshone-Bannock of Idaho.
The full text of the letter follows:
“Dear Mr. Wesley:
“I am pleased to learn from resolution that was passed on February 25, 1956 that the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona is interested in having the Adult Education Program, recently undertaken by the Bureau, extended to all the tribes in Arizona.
"This, as you know, is a new program and at the present time the Bureau is initiating a pilot program at five different agencies, including the Papago in Arizona, to test the techniques that we think should be used in conducting the program, the types of written materials that we think will be most valuable and several other things that we think we should know about before we launch a big program.
"We think that by beginning the program on a small scale we can give special training to the teachers who will work in the program and we can test the materials we have prepared. We also think that this pilot program will give us a better opportunity to learn about the types of training adult Indians want and how best to work with them. We shall have to learn which hours of the day and which days of the week the adults can attend classes, whether teaching should be done in classes, in family groups, or on an individual basis and a lot more. We would not be able to learn these things ahead of time if we were to try to launch a big program immediately. Then, too, funds are not yet available for a big program.
"A representative of this office will probably be in Arizona some time within the next three or four weeks. He will get in touch with you during his visit to tell you more about the program and to answer any question you may have. Perhaps arrangements for him to meet with the Inter-Tribal Council can be made if after talking to him you feel that a meeting would be helpful. In the meantime I want to assure you that as programs are proposed for additional Indian groups the members of the groups will be given an opportunity to assist in the planning of the program. I also want to assure you that the Adult Education Program will be extended to meet the broader needs of Indian groups as funds permit and as the interests of the Indians indicate.
"Thank you for sending me a copy of the resolution passed by the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona. It is very gratifying to me and the members of my staff to know that you wish the Adult Education Program extended to all the tribes in Arizona.
