OCR Text |
Show REPORT 0%T' HE SUPERINTENDENT OF INDIAN SCHOOLS. DEPARTMENOFT T BE INTERIOR, OFFICEO F SUPERINTENDEOFN ITN DUSXCH OOLS, Washington, D. C., September 85,1907. SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith the twenty-fifth annual report of the Superintendent of Indian Schools. As in preceding years, the greater part of the time I have spent in the field visiting and inspecting schools, and detailed reports on their condition, de-fects, and requirements, have been submitted to you from time to time. Through correspondence and circulars of instruction, and by per-sonal directions when in the field, we have endeavored to conduct the educational work along the lines you have outlined, and to increase thereby the efficiency of the schools. Efforts have been made to obtain a closer correlation of the class-room and industrial work by giving individual assistance to teachers and through demonstration lessons presented at the various institutes. Teachers have been en-couraged to study the conditions on the reservations and the indi-vidual characteristics of their pupils, and to use this howled e in their efforts to adapt the instruction to meet the requirements of ocaI conditions and the practical needs of pupils. 'i As you are aware, many teachers entering the Service have the mistaken idea that their efforts should be directed toward transform-ing the Indian child into something else, instead of developing him along natural lines, and do not seem to realize that the methods suited to white children must be materially modified in instrubting Indian children. In view of this it has frequently been found neces-sary to spend considerable time at a school in order to assist tgachers inexperienced in the work to adapt their courses of instruction to meet the needs of the particular tribe of Indians they are teaching and to prepare sample lessons for their guidance. While the plan of assisting individual teachers requires much time and labor, the efforts put forth are showing good results. EMPLOYEES' CONFERENCES. In compliance with the instructions contained in a circular letter sent to the field, most of the schools have established employees' round-table conferences. These meetings are held at stated periods, usually weekly or biweekly, at which difficulties encountered in the 134 |