OCR Text |
Show I REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 9 schools. When pupils have completed the curriculum of these institu-tions and are deemed worthy of further advancement, transfers are effected to the larger and better-equipped ones, so that they may be better fitted to cope with the conditions of their future life. Bnt under the operation of the law requiring the consent of the parents or gnard-ians, the great majority of whom are steeped in ignorance and hosHe to schools, such advantages can not be given to all the deserving ones. It sometimes occurs that there are bright boys and girls in the camps and at the day schools who can advantageously be transferred at an early age to this class of schools, and under such conditions attend-ance upon the reservation school is not insisted upon. The course of instruction in nonreservation schools is adapted, so far as the same can be, to the future environment of the pupil if he elects to return to his old home. As it is not believed to be the province of the state to give its future citizens an elaborate professional or industrial training, there-fore industrial and intellect~iale ducation are so coordinated that when the boy or girl leaves school he or she is equipped for the ordinary duties of life. The Government lays the foundation and the pupil must thereafter build his own ~tructure. If his talents are in the direction of a business or professional career, he will find that his school course has been of unparalleled benefit to him. The normal training received by pupils in the l a~ge rs chools, such as Carlisle, Haskell, Phmnix, and others, has given to the service a number of bright and proficient teachers; however, pupils are given to understand that after the Government has given them an ednca-tion it has performed its obligation and will only provide p l w s and salaries in its aervice for those of exceptional merit. A11 instrnc-hon is of that character which is opposed to paternalism, with its per-petual care, guardianship, and maintenance. The establishment of a mannal-training department at Phcenix during the ensuing fiscal year will be of vast advantage to the service and, if the results are equal to the expectations of this office, the plau will be followed in other schools. The present number of nonreservation schools is sufficient to meet all the requirements of the service, but they should be enlarged in some cases and better equipped in others. The location, data of opening, number of employees, capacity, enroll-ment, and average attendance of the nonreservation schools are shown in the following'table. |