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Show REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF INDIAN 8CHOOL8. 349 I regret that, probably from lack of funds, the Department has not been able to provide boarding schools with pianos, much needed for school singiug as well a8 in the physical exercises of the school. Per. sons who are comoetent to judge in this matter iuforn~ me that the scl~oool rgan, whiic a~lmisaiGlei ~ ci o ~~gregat~osnin;g~iln g, is .not a suit. able iustru~ueutt o acconlpauy scl~ools il~giugn ut1 to lead in physical exercises. M y own experience ill these inarters co~~vincmt~ed t hat tl~eir views are coFreet, and I sincerely hope that during the ensning year many of the boarding schools may be supplied with piauos, so that the teachers may be enabled to put into the songs and physical exercises of the children that cheery Blan which the reed organ is not capable of calling forth or sustaining. With reference to drawing, I had hoped before this to furnish the teachers with a syllabus to guide them in the work, but other duties, possibly of minor importance but requiriug immediate attentiou,,have so far kept me from comoletine this work. Sliould Concress in its appropriitions enable me to se&re needed help for atteudfng to these minor duties I shall then be able to devote more time to the direct guidance of the various phases of the scliool work. PHYSICAL TRAINING. During the ensuing school year special efforts will be made to secure attentiou, wherever this is feasible, to the more systewatic pbysical training of the children. For this purpose I have recommended that the teachers be supplied with a small manual on Popular Gymnas-tics," giving directior~sf or exercises that will, without the use of corn-plieated implements itrid without the suggestion of violent athletics, develop grace and social unity of nioveluent and secure uniform and all-sided muscular development. These exercises will add charm to tlie social evenings, will vary the mollotol~y of square dances, and remove the temptation for an occasional indulgence iu the objectiouahle round dances. In schools that are assembly halls satisfactory arrangements may be made for these exercises in the largest schoolrooms by fasten-ing the school desks, not to the floor, but to suitable wooden slats, so that the desks cau be readily moved aside for the physical exercise or the social evening. Whenever the weather permits, however, these exercises may be profltably conducted out of doors. SCHOOL BUILDINGS. Much at ten ti or^ has been given during the past year to the subjects of ventilatioi~,l ighting, and heatir~g. Ample provision is beine made for steam heating in all new bnildiies in climates that demanz ~niinl~ - artificial heat dnsng a great portion Gf the year, and movements are in progress throughout the service to snbstitute, even in old 1)lants. healthful and economical systems of furnace or'steam 11eatingAr the expensive and disease-breeding loca.1 stove, which is usually attended with utter lack of ventilation. It is to be hoped that Coneress will come to the relief of the schnnlnin ~ ~~ their etfurta t o i~~p p l a nt lt~ o e r ~ u aelxlp~en sive and un~.ygienier oal.oil I m p with a clean, relatively eco~~on~iacnsdl, safeclrctric light. A I I I I ~ . her of our scl~oolas re located in the viiiliiry of water pow&; a number of others arc supplied with steani boilers for u variety of pnrpuses. 1x1 all these the oatlay for elect~iv lighting plant3 would ba greittly reduced. |