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Show 44 COMMI88IONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. TABLnEo . 6.-Loc&.nn, capacity, enrnUmmt, and awageaftendance of CnemrnmJ day schools duPingfieal )lea?, dc.-Continued. Location. Total . . . .. . . . .. . .. . . . . . . ... . . . . .. .. . . . ... .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . 4,m 4,434 8,203 Indians in white public schools.-While the ultimate end of all Indian civilizing methods is €he absorption of the red man, naturally and easily into the body politic, the introduction of Indian children into white schools is not always attended with desired results. Theeffortsof this office are not earnestly seconded by the State and Territorial authori-ties. Too frequently where contracts are made with school districts the money to he paid by the Government is the main thing sought, and not a sincere desire to benefit the Indian. Many who are enrolled under these contracts are undoubtedly entitled to such privileges, as their parents are citizens, and the children are counted in the scholastic census. This is short-sighted policy. The Government can not indefi-nitely provide separate schools for Indians. The earlier and more con-scientiously the States and Territories undertake their political duty to the children of their red citizens the easier will the transfer be accomplished. As stated, the u1'11nate object of Indian school8 is to prepare these children for an easy entrance into the public-school system. To do this institutions are specialty organized by the Government for Indian youth. The present-day Indian often lives in filth and squalor. His children are not surrounded by cleanly environments, such as our chil-dren are accustomed to in well-ordered honies. As more and more parents are educated a larger share of the children t%ke on civilized manners and customs. While the Indian school may veneer the parent, the result is more permanent in his children. Lack of morality and cleanliness after our ideals are the usnal bars to placing Indian youth in white schools. There is littleor no racial prejudice; hence as each gen-eration becomesimproved in theseessentials, prejndicedisappears. The white parent will then have no objection to his cbildren sitting side by side with the little red skins, whose faces and persons bear the mark of a kindly Indian mother's intelligent care and attention at home. |