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Show REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF INDIAN SCHOOLB. 351 PUPILS' PAY. I have rnadeson~ei~rq~~iriesin~porroIb~lr~ ~no~ft t ~ ~ l e ~ ~wt lsli'ephwa ~as, disco~~tirnlbry~ la U e l ~ ; l ~ t ~o~r~~leeuro fl 1691. l..p to that time it 11;ltl 1 been the cnstoh in a-number of scl~oolsto pay ~Tomi~lwala ges for the perforu~anceo f heavier duties connected with the work of the school. The chief uuroose of this was to teach the vounc I n d i a ~t~hse rel;~tioil and care in the management of this practice. Pupils werepaid only for work that deserved pay; they were held to strict ncoount as to their ma.ys of spending their money and encouraged in habits of thrift. Other schools managed the matter loosely, paid for the performance even of the most trivial chores, exorcised no col~trool ver the expendi-ture of the nloney on the pul~ila' part, and thus through their neg-ligence i~lculcatedh abits of n~astefuluessr ather thau of thrift. Probably the lack of judgment in this latter class of schools occa-sionecl the Department order which abolished the entire system. In I this class of scl~oolsth e order has worked IIO hardship; but the former elass has he11 deprived by it of a valuable and elfective me*lls of econon~ictr aining. At the same time the abrogation of the system llns proved to be 110 saving to the Governmeot, so far at least as this miser class of ncl~oolsi s concerned. Under the ,judicious gnicla~~cofe these schools the pupils gratified their growing ambition and self-respect by purchasing better atrd more tastefhl articles of clotl~ingth an the school supplies afforded them. Thus the school issue of such articles w;18 materially lessened and the school secured the educatioual~adva~xtage~ of the system with but a nominal outhy of money, saving practically with one hand what it expended with the other. Every consideration of economic and educational gain requires, there-fore, the reestablishment of thin system under rules and restrictions wl~ichwilsle cure its propey administration. With this objeot,in view I am collecting full data upon this question, so that I may be enabled to submit for your consiclerntiou a clelioite a11d tried plan. Much stress has been laid bp me during the past year upon efforts to improve the matron's service aud to secure for it the recognition which itsimportance and dignity demand. Next to the superintendent the mil-tron or schoolmother occupies themost influential positionin the school. Her duties impose upon her the direction and control of the work clone in every department of domestic economy, includiog the dormitories, diuing room, kitchen, dairy, larundry, and sewing room. At the same time she is directly responsible for the general conduct of the girls, to whom she bolds very mucl~t he same relation which the diuciplinariai~ holds to the boys. Her spirit and bearing determine in a large measure the moral tone and character of the girls and, through the girls, of the school. Great care shonld therefore be exercised in their selection as well as in the observation of their work during the period of probation. In .retorn the salary attacl~ed to this position shonld bear a just ratio to the importauce of the work, so that severer tests may be applied to the qualifications of candidates aud probationers and that meritorioua incumbents n ~ a ybe equitably rewarded. |
