OCR Text |
Show XVI REPORT OF THE C031JIISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. In addition to the above the Government has assiste,d in the support of an Indian pupil at each of the followiug iustit,utions: Howard Uni-versity and ITayland Seminary, in Washington; medical department of University of Pennsylvania a114 Woman's Medical College, in Phila. delphia, and Linholu Institute, Chester, Pa. .A11 the above figures relate only to schools supported in whole or in part by the Government, and if to these were added the school attend-ance among the five civilized tribes and the New Pork Indians, and the schools supported by religions societies without any expense to the Gov-ernment, the figures would be largely increased. Eowever, they would still fall far short of showing that school facilities are provided for all Indian children between the-ages of six and sixteen. Such facilities sbonld be furnished, but this point can not be reached without much larger appropriations than have heretofore been given. I hope there will be no failure to grant the small increase in the school appropriation which I have asked for next year. Advantage should be taken of the present favorable attitudu of the Indiads toward education. The following comparative statement shows the advance made inIn-dian school work during the past five years, and it aill'be noticed that during the present administration there ha6 been i n increase of 27 in the number of Indian schools and aninerease of 2,377 in the average atFend-ance of pupils : It, is apparent that wehave advanced far enough in the education of Indian children to he able to say that what for il time was an experi-ment no longer admits of uncertainty. The Indian can be educated equally with the white or the colored man, and his education isgradually being Gcomplished, and at a less cost per capita from gear to sear as the work proceeds. During the past year the average cost to the Govern-ment per annum of educating a pupil in a Government boarding-school has been abont'$170; in a, contract boarding-school, $130 j iuaGovern. ment day school, $53, and in a contract day school, $30. Of course the, amount paid by the Government to the contract schools is inadequate for the support and education of tbe pupils placed therein, and the sooieties conducting the schools supply the deficiency from their ovn resources.. I take no part in the controversy as to which is tbe bust method of having Indians educaterl, whetllcr on or off rc8ervations. |