OCR Text |
Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 13 There were enrolled in these schools 8,489 pupils, with an average attendance of 7,056. The increase in enrollment of 421, and in average attendance of 5'79, over 1895, indicates a satisfactory and healthy eon-dition of these schools and substantial progress, especially when com-parison is made with the small increase of 337 ill average attendance last year. The majority of these schools are fully equipped for both literary and industrial training, and are doing excellent work in their particular fields. The Indian as a rule looks upon the reservation school as peculiarly his own, and by a wise system of visitation on the part of the parents the school is kept in tonch with the older Indians. These schools are the backbone of the Indian educational system, and their influence in uplifting the tribal life around them is wonderful. The number of these schools has been only slightly increased, as mill be observed, notwithstanding the gratifying increa.se both in enroll-ment and average attendance. It has been deemed expedient to enlarge the usefulness of schools already in operation rather thanto make doubtful experiments in new fields. DAY SCHOOLS. It is impossible successfully to complete the education of the Indian, no matter how well his hands or head may be trained, if after the completion of that training in the boarding schools his home envhon-ment is to be such as to stifle ambition and return him to the condition from which the Government has taken him. With this thought in view, great stress has been laid upou the work of the day schools. ' They are situated in the heart of the Indian country, and the smoke of the little schoolhouse mingles with that of the tepee. The young and the old Indians are daily brought into contmt with the teachers, who represent the white man's civilization; The day school is as much an educator of the father and mother as of the child. These teachers are required todevote a portion of their time to benefiting the older Indians in showing them the advantages of home life and the practical arts of domestic economy. Homes are made brighter, and the little child just learning the rudiments of civilization unconsciously carrie~ home with him each day some portion of it, which the teacher further emphasizes. Every instructor in these Iittle sohools is expected to be a missionary bearing the light of morality, cleanliness, and knowledge to the very altars of the Indian's home, and endeavoring to prepare that home for the pupil who has passed through tbe larger reservation and nonres-ervation boarding schools. There are 124 of these schools, all with the exception of eight being on reservations, %nd they have a capacity of 4,424 pupils, boys and girls. Noonday lunches are provided at many of them, and a limited industrial training is given. |