Navajo Times

Education Stressed

300 high school Indian students heard what the older Indians had to say about what the younger generation is doing as Southwestern regional Indian Youth Council came to an end on April 15.

Saturday morning was devoted to a discussion of the workshops which were held Friday. During the Saturday discussions the older Indians accused the youngsters of "becoming lazy and too good" to do the work they formerly did before they became "educated"

Ideas were exchanged by delegates for possible solutions of the conflicts between "traditions on the reservations and in the pueblos and the modern educational aims."

Dr. Robert A. Roessel of Arizona State University urged the young Indian students to "respect the traditions of the older Indians but to get the best education possible."

Dr. Roessel, head of the Department of Indian Education at the Tempe school, spoke to the Indian Youth Council Friday.

"Education can bridge the gap between the traditional and the modern for Indian youth." Dr. Roessel said.

Dr. Roessel said that about 4000 Indians are now studying in some form of higher education beyond the high school. He also said the principal problems encountered by the Indians are inability to communicate their thoughts, poor social adjustment, lack of finances, and relatively poor study habits.

On Friday the Indian representatives divided into workshops to discuss such subjects as ills of early marriages, causes of failures in high school, role of faculty advisors, how to improve home situations.

Garr Packard said, "We believe that if there is a solution to the complex Indian problem it lies largely in more education, both academic and vocational." Garr Packard is president of the Southwestern Association on Indian Affairs that annually sponsor the workshop.

"The association has fought for Indian rights and the advancement of Indian education for nearly 30 years," he added.

The youth council concluded with the Nizhoni dances on Saturday night. The dances are an annual benefit staged by the Kiva Club for its scholarship fund.