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Show BEPORT OF THE COXHI88IONER OF INDIAN AFFFAIR8. 77 EDUCATION. Educational matters among the Five Civilized Tribes have progressed during the fiscal year 1903 with slight, if any, friction. Harmony has prevailed between both Government and tribal authorities, and there have been distinct gains made from an educational standpoint. No new agreements have been entered into. Officials, teachers, and parents seem to have endeavored to carry out those already made in the spirit intended. The tribal authorities realize that the Govern-ment is interested only in the welfare of the children and a proper application, under reasonable safeguards and checks, of the moneys appropriated for these objects. This is largely manifested in the cordiality with which white teachers are now received at full-blood schools where formerly they were entertained with suspicion. This is gratifying, and evidences the tact of Superintendent Benedict and his assistants. Another mark of progress is manifested in the increased attendance of teachers upon the summer normal institutes. While general school conditions of the Five Civilized Tribes mani-fest marked improvement, it must be understood that in the great majority of cases the authority of the Indiin department is merely nominal or purely supervisory. Abuses can not always be corrected or reforms instituted when they are necessaq. The several nations are under different laws and different agreements, and therefore each will be dealt with separately in this brief report. Cherokee Bation.-Educational gains of a decided character are reported from this nation. The schools of this nation are under the direction of United States Supervisor of Education B. S. Coppock, and D. E. Ward, A. S. Wiley, and S. I?. Parks, composing the Cbero-kee national school board. They have appointed for the ensuing fall term in the primary schools 160 teachers. The Cherokees came from Georgia and vicinity and settled on lands patented to them in 1840. It is an interesting fact that before the adjoining States were States these people had adopted a constitution making officials elective, abol-ishing polygamy and recognizing the Christian religion, and had passed strict temperance laws. They were the first Indian tribe to establish a free public school system. Missionaries were welcomed, a native alphabet was adopted, and a printing press and newspaper were estab-lished by the nation. Separate schools are maintained for Indians and negroes. The full bloods by choice generally attend the same school. The Cherokee and negro do not intermarry or socially mingle, as reported by Snper-visor Coppock, but the race problem seems to be "efficiently solved to the general satisfaction of the three races concerned and the inter-mediary mixed bloods." The number of primary ~choolsin creased during the year from 140 |
