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Show 28 REPORT OF THE ~ 0 ~ 1 8 8 1 0NEORF INDIAN AFFAIRS. assistance on the part of the Government, and their schools fostered as helpful adjuncts to a great work. The following table shows the enrollment, average attendance, decrease and increase in the regular Government and contract schools for the period beginning with the reductions in the contract system to its final abandonment at the close of the past fiscal year: TABLEN O. 14.-AUendance at conhact and Government schools cmpmed. Contract schaols. Government schooh. Inereme. year. ance. 1893 ..................... 6,125 4,909 .................... 14 716 11 223 .................... 1894 ..................... 6,026 5,165 99 (I) 159 15:237 11:831 522 688 1895 ..................... 5,880 4 998 146 165 16.584 12,804 1,347 5-73 1896 ..................... 4,439 3:797 1 441 1,201 17,789 14 365 1,205 1,661 1897 ..................... 3,la 2.785 1:281 1,012 18,603 14'876 814 511 1698 ..................... 2,999 2 639 159 146 19.899 16:166 1,296 1,289 1898.. ................... 2,903 2:523 96 11620712 16.718 813 563 1900 ..................... 2,806 2,451 97 72 22:124 17,860 1,412 1,142 I 1 NOTE.-(I) indicates increase; all others in this column are decreases. MS8ION SCHOOLS. Mission schools are a growing class of schools whose work is of great benefit not only to the children but to the adult Indians. They are operated and conducted by various religious bodies, both Protes-tant and Catholic, and also by philanthropic associations. Teachers, employees, food, clothing, and buildings are provided by the conduc-tors of these schools. The Government only assuming supervisory care over them, they are visited by iuspectingofficials of this officeand the Department for the purpose of observing the care and attention bestowed upon the pupils, their progress, health, and general condi-tion. Agents and other Government officials are directed to "lend a helping hand," and assist the missionary efforts of the employees in securing a legitimateattendance. On those reservations where food and clothing are issued to the adult Indians, the agent furnishes such pro-portion of the mtions and clothing to the school as he would give to the parents were the children at home. When no rations we issued, or the school is not on an Indian reservation, the entire expense of maintaining the school is borne by the association or church under whose control it is conducted. Connected with many of these schools are small mission churches, which have a wide influence for good on the community. Children in the Government schools are advised and urged to attend the church of their choice. There were enrolled in the mission boarding schools 1,062 pupils, with an average attendance of 946. The capacity of these schools is 1,320. Six mission day schools reported an enrollment of 213, aver-age attendance 193, and capacity 275. |