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and Samuel Proctor Oral History Program on
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Miss Choc 60A

Sub: Jimmy Jim

Int: Howard Dixon

Carl Isaac

9-26-79

A.M.

Page -1-



I: We are interviewing Jimmy Jim on industrial arts today. Uumri-. September

T&26, 1979. IntervieweirHoward Dixon and Carl Isaac. 4 Jimmy could

you tell us about your background?

J: Well I attended Choctaw Central High School, graduateafrom here, then I went

to art school in New Mexico for two years, post graduate and from there

I went gB technical school in New Jersey for about year, come back home and

then I went to Junior College. Went there about year and a half.

Then I got married. Then after after I got married started back college

and finally finished it.

I: What made you decide to take industrial arts as your career?

J: Well I was ....really wanna go in electrical engineer. Then ya know

programs they had on Educate... it's students in education

only. So that's why I went on and instead I changed to industrial arts.

I: Have you taught anywhere tatis=6 : te Choctaw City?

J: No.

I: ?

J: Going on my third year here.

I: Since you've been here, how have the students progressed in their work?

J: For my class I've started with the basics, basics in drawing, metal working,

and woodworking, and electricity. Start off with the basics then we go up

from there.










Miss Choc 60A -2-


I: When you started teaching, did you have those machines?

J: You mean the one we have in there now?

I: Yeah.

J: When I got here it was already here, yeah.

I: Do you know how to work with all those machines?

J: et3he. Ye,

I: How long...V. How long did it take to learn all those machines?

J: For me..... or for students?

I: Students.

J: For students? It wouldn't take very long. We have some students that are

eager to learn ya know. When you have students like that it don't take

long.

I: What',b Y&cX 0pv' i 3c`) j -rco want to take z e ?

J: .,? I think it ya know that would be a nice/yor

anybody.. .' nowadays ya know.

I: Was there any opportunities when you first started?

J: Oh.W in ;h -.g vocational education?

I: Yeah.

J: jfri.I wasn't aware of it really.

I: How was it like going away and from the tribe to own community?

J: Going away and coming -dn here?

I: Mmm hmm.

J: What was it like? jw well coming back home, workinwith the people here

I: Mmm hmm.

J: I think I'd be better working with my own people than ya know go somewhere











Miss Choc 60A -3-


S work. But sincelya know, I've been to other places before, seen what it's like.

I: Did you feel different from other people?

J: What when I was away?

I: Yes.

J: No.

I: How did the people treat ya?

J: Well like WAya know just one of them. Ya get.... sa

I: From your experience, what advice would you give to a student finishing

college and looking for a job?

J: -Ging back to Choctaw Central and work here-in equciion,



. We need more Choctaw 6 A reservation. In education as well as in tribal

folk I'd like to see more Choctaws in here.

I: What are your future plans for industrial arts.

J: As of now? I'm not really sure yet. I like what I'm doing right now.

I: What are you.....~

J: Maybe in the future I might think of something else)but as of now, I like

the way it is. I don't have any _. I'm just doing a little

bit of everything.

I: What do you think about student's discipline in school?

0; I think we need strict discipline here at Choctaw Central...... with more

help from the parents...... like we used to have ini:the old days.

I: ,,'what happened to someone who skipped class?

J: We didn't have anybody skipping class during my time.

I: You mean back then?

J: Yeah. Right. While I was going to school here. Nobody skips class or

cuts class either. Of course, \ sent us -r. school >
Of corsent us SC z,~--










Miss Choc 60A -4-


to
'/Istay in school. We didn't ,,.,v ya know, back home.

I: Was the discipline changed since you'be been here?

J: Right. Very much. Cause I've seen plenty of students walking around

everyday.!,=- not attending class. We need more stricter...

I: How did the students cooperate in class?

J: In my class? We get along alright. very well. I like

it. (long pause) Some students who are still not asking questions where

some of them they fot involved. I think we're really improving

Choctaw. Especially comparing to the first class I ever had when I first

started working here.

I: Plan on going somewhere else to teach?

J: To teach? No. Definitely nod- [chuckle), To teach maybe for ya know other

jobs, different jobs if Iya know..... if I like to go ya know different

jobs are open but-ptxme somewhere else and work. I might ____ .

Not to teach.

I: How do you like the recreation around the reservation?

J: `h tribal program or school? Which one?

I: Tribal.

J: Tribal? Well from what I heard itsjr-ia it's alright .z-3 I'd say. I

I dontt participate in all the sports they have going on here. I participate

in basketball. That's about the only sport We had a little

team ya know, little tea/mast year. This year we plan to have another oneprv ,

with-uh ..> with my former classmates. ) _, supposed to have

a team this year. some trophies, .

I: What about the school recreation?

J: School recreation? I think we have a pretty good program here comparing

to to the time I was in school here. PWhole lot better cause we didn't have










Miss Choc 60A -5-


J: any, chuckle., If we did Ya'll

had pretty good opportunity ya know in sports get scholarships

to go to college. Basketball Pretty good chance.

Got pretty good chance which I didn't but.

So high school sports were..... like I said And

baseball As I was saying awhile ago, high school here

has had pretty good sports I'd like to see Carl Isaac with

some professional baseball team as a pitcher. high school

team.



(End of interview)