A Forward Thinking Teacher

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Teacher feeds Indian kids to increase attendance

A 1927 Field Survey on Education on the Turtle Mountain Reservation reported how a forward thinking teacher increased attendance at his school by ensuring that the Indian students received a hearty meal, rather than having to bring one from home.  The report stated:

"Concerning the noonday meal, I want to call attention to Ingebretson District No. 4, where Mr. Olliver Finstad is employed as teacher at a salary of $125.00 per month, the largest salary of any of the teachers in the rural schools within the reservation. It was certainly a real pleasure, almost a revelation, to visit his school. He called our attention to his register showing that the month they had the noonday meal the attendance was much the highest of any other month, also that there was less tardiness. At the present time he is serving a midday lunch consisting only of potatoes boiled into a thick soup, seasoned with salt, pepper and grease. He raised the potatoes himself and furnishes the seasoning from his own personal funds. The girls of the school cook- this pot of soup and serve it to the children in attendance. He says they all bring bread with them in their lunches so that this soup supplies them with a hot nourishing - food in connection with the lunches provided by the parents. This is very popular with the children and with the parents, and it only shows how far a very small expenditure of interest, energy and funds will carry."

From 1927 Field Survey on Education on the Turtle Mountain Reservation, Bureau of Indian Affairs.