Northwest History. Alaska. Science. United States.

• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1936
• Subjects: Alaska; Schools; Teachers; Northwest; Pacific > History > 20th Century; Karnes; Pacific; Ketchikan; Skagway
• Online Access: http://content.libraries.wsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/clipping/id/101548

Alaska School All Up-To-Date ALL UP-TO-DATE Three jolly gentlemen from "up north," in whose hands lies a large share of responsibility for the public schools of Alaska, were guests of Spokane today and honored visitors at the annual Inland Empire Education The three are Anthony E. Karnes, commissioner of territorial education; A. B. Phillips, superintendent of public schools at Juneau, and H. R. Kelly, superintendent at Ketchikan. "There's nothing mysterious or amazing about the Alaskan school system." Mr. Karnes, as temporary spokesman, told the Chronicle today. "Pupils don't saddle reindeer for their daily trips to school, though in means of educational locomotion. And Proud of 'Em. "Neither is there any one-room log sehoolhouse aspect to Alaskan education. We are naturally pretty proud of our schools and visitors to the territory will find them even more perfectly equipped than schools in the States." "We furnish absolutely all the material pupils need,"' Mr. Phillips said. "Our departments requiring specialized equipment are fully supplied, and we furnish pupils with everything—paper and pencils, and in some cases even handkerchiefs." "We've got 14 high schools in Alaska, 12 of them accredited according to standards down here," Mr. Kelly put in. "The 92 grade institutions are operated precisely as they are right here in Spokane." "Under the Alaskan system, natives, who were officially made citi zens about 1924, can choose either a white or a native school." Mr. Karnes said. "As a result, about 34 per cent of the students in "white" schools are at least quarter-breed Indians. The expense of educating these is borne by the territory, though we are trying to get federal funds for them as is done in the states." Athletics in. Alaska are mainly Intramural, according to Mr. Kelly. Hoop Sport Popular. "Basketball is the main sport," he said. "The climate prhobitis football, though we did inaugurate a tough ball league in Ketchican last year. We are considering putting in a bowling alley and establishing that along with basketball as the main competitive sport." In southwestern Alaska there is a interschool league, and this teams traveled 340 miles by dog tea between Skagway and Ketchikan for the championship play-off. There is no local taxation for Alaskan schools, according to Mr. Karnes. Entire expense for education is borne by the central territorial government.