OCR Text |
Show REPORT OF THE CODIMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 7 for the purpose of filling the schools to the limit of their capilcity by placi~ig therein every child of school age on the reservation whose physical condition would justify the necessary confinement of school life. Notmithstanding these efforts it appeared that there were influ-ences adverse to education among the older and more conservative Indians of sufficient strength to thwart the desires of this office. Ont-side influences also conspired to oppose the placing of the children in schools. Under existing regulatio~~ags ents felt themselves powerless to overcome the strength of the opposition. Efficient meails were necessary, and you were requested and did so approve the following circular, which was at once p~mulgated: SEPTEMBER9, 1897. To Agmts and Bonded Stcpobdendents: When notified by the superintendent of E reservation boarding sohool, or the teaoher of a day school an hie reservation, of the fact that a pnpil enrolled at the agency an which the schopl islaoated Ires left the sohool without permieaion, the agent ahsll promptly return snah pupil to the respective school. Should the parent, guard-ian, or parson harboring the pupil fail or refnae to deliver him, the ayenoy police and school employees, or either of them, are hereby direoted to arrest and return snah pnpil under the orders of the agent. Agenoy police and school e~uployeesa re authorized and empowered to arrest and bring before the agent for suitable punish-ment rsny person or peraons who mlly hinder them in the lawful performance of this duty. Parents, gnsrdians, and other persons who msyohstruot or prevent theagent from placing Indian children of the reaervation in the scl~oolstb ereof shall be sub-ject to like penzlt,ies; provided, that this regolatian shall not be construed aa author-izing the remoral of Indian children from their reservations to bc placed in a school outside of such reservation without the consent of the parent or guardian of the children, required by lsw to be first obtained. When an agent is notified of the return to his reservation of a pupil of a non-reservation sohool, he sball take the necessary steps to inform himself as to the legitimacy of his return. Shonld he find thst a pupil can not produce satisfactory evidenoe of proper authority for his retnrn, a full report of all the factn mnst he promptly made to the Indian Office and the wperintondent of the aohoal be notieed thereof. Very respectfillly, W. A. JOXE~C,m mi~&mw. The wisdom of this course is fi~llye videnced in the largely increased enrollment and average attendance for these schools, to which attention has been specifically directed. Pursuing this subject still fnrther, it should be clearly apparent that there is a grave necessity for some legislation looking to the compulsory education of Indian children. With a view to introducing a moderate regulation in this matter, it was suggested that an item be incorpo-rated in the appropriation law that the Oommisuioner of Indian Affairs should have the right to transfer advanced pupils from the various Indian schools to other and larger schools situated in other States and Territories without the consent of parents and guardians when in his judgment the best interests of such pupils would be subserved. This sng-gestion, however, failed to secure the approval of Congress. Fntnre developments will undoubtedly emphasize, as the facts of the past and the experience of collecting officials have demonstrated, that a |