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Show Tam10 9.-E~vollment and avwagb attandance at Indian sahoois 1&7 to 1891. I Enrolled. I Average attendanoe. Dq .................... -8.115 3 , l -- To& I . . . .............. / 9.962 /&-I 8 . W 110,189 /b Total ................. 1 4 3 7 1 15.038 16,: I I I I I I I I I An inspection of this table shows that during the last five years there has been a steady increase in the number of pupils enrolled and also in the average attendance. The enrollmeut is, as now reached, nearly 18,000, being 3,693 greater than in 1887, and 2,142 greater than in 1889. I f i t were possible to keep up this rate of increasefor a very few years all the Indian school population would be provided for. The difficulties of increasing the number, however, are many and great, and have taxed to the utmost the patience and ingenuity of those engaged in the work. In view of :111 the circumstances,I look upon the increase in enrollment and attendance during the past two years with special satisfaction. It is not at all surprising that considerable difficulty has been ex. perienced in securing regular and satisfactory attendance. This is a difficult matter, even in old, settled communities, where the children have comfortable homes, where the schools are contiguous and easily accessible, and where the parents feel the necessity of education. It is rendered much more difficult by the circumstances that now exist amongthe Indians. Vfultitudes of these people know nothing of edu- . cation by experience, have no appreciation of itr; value for their children, and are loath to have them taken from them even for a short time. They are devotedly attaGhed to them, they miss their companionship, and they are accustomed to rely upon their assistance in the performance of such simple duties as they are capable of. I regret to beobliged to say that very persistent efforts have been put forth in several instances to prejudice the Indians against theGov-ernment schools. Their minds have been excited, their antagonisms aroused, andin many cases they have been induced by various means to resist to the utmost of their power the efforts of the Government to secure the attendance of their children. The attention of those en: gaged in this has been called to its harmfulresults,andI hope that the evil complained of will cease. |