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Show 4 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. There has been a steady increase in the average attendance and enrollment among the schools for the past twenty-one years, as the fol-lowing tabnlatea statement will exhibit: SUXMARY OF INDIAN SCHOOLS AND ATTENDANCE. The following table gives a statement of the number of Indian schools, enrollruent, and attendance during the past twenty-two years: TABLE 1.-Numb of lfidian aohoola and average attmdanoef7wn 1877 to 1898. a Boerdiog sohwls. Dey sohoob. b Tdnls. Year. Number. I Bt",',"iNtnrmmberl. I aeif~~m,l Numbsr. ( atAtevnedrangece . I I I I I I *Some of the figures in this table aa pdntad prior to 1396 were taken fmm reports of the Spperin-tendent of Indian Schools. A8 revised the are all taken from the reports of the Oommlsa~onero f =dim ~ t i a i r a . prior to 1832 the figwe: i n c h e the ~ a ~wo r lsic haols. bIndia~c hiidron sttending public sohaols ere inG1~3.d in the averhge attendhnm, bat the aohoola are not inclnded in thennmber of ~ohoolm. While this table shows a uniform and steady increase in attendance upon the schools, the natural query presents itself as to the value of the educational method pursued with these pupils. For the purpose of arriving at some definite conclusion, data upon the question was obtained from the different agents. They were requested to make a careful canvass of all returned pupils then living upon the reservations nnder their charge and submit a brief estimate of the character and wnduct of each with reference to the results of their educational wnrse at the school attended, together with such facts or conditions existing in the tribe on the reservation, or in its environment that gen-erally help or hinder returned pupils. The data thus collected were collated with reference to the present physical condition of the returned pupils, and their efficiency as men and women in the ordinary rela-tions of everyday life. The result was surprising, and will bear com-parison with similar statistics from white schools. Of the pupils who had attended schools, although only a small per cent graduated, 3 per cent are reported as excellent, or &st-class; 73 per cent as good, |
