OCR Text |
Show REPORT OF TEE COMMlSSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 35 pupils" who have come in contact with the higher civilization of the white people is establishing a valuable connection between the school and the Indian home. Their influence finds a reflex action upon their own people, rendering the collection of raw material easier than in theearlier days of the present policy; although under the present law requiring the consent of parents to send a child off to school, this action is too frequently nullified by an ancient squaw or ignorant chief. The recommendations made in the two preceding annual reports of the Indian Department are repeated, and it is urged that some just and equitable amendment be made to existing laws which will take from ignorant parents the privilege of continuing their children in a state of savagery and will bring the children into contact with the highest types of civilization. While it is possible with the present system grad-ually to overcome much of the wtive opposition, yet the ignorance of parents delays the consummation of all our efforts looking to the dis-continuance of the heavy expenditure for Indian support and education. The old Indian must die out. The buffalo, the chase, the warpath, the ghost dance, must be forgotten as actual occurrences before many of the backward tribes will voluntarily take advantage of the schools. A compulsory school law will hasten the final accomplishment of the Government plan of absorption of tribes and extinguishment of reservations. From a business as well as sentimental standpoint, every Indian child should be taught the ordinary branches and a trade, so that the earlier may he cease to be a pensioner on the bounty of his Government and be all the name of an American citizen implies. Communities more civilized, more enlightened than the Indian have found it necessary at times to enforce attendance upon their schools. There are twenty-nine States and two Territories of this progressive nation which have compulsory school laws on their statute books. Nearly every foreign civilized country has similar laws. The penalties imposed on parents are fines or imprisonment, or both. Although to fine a father or imprison a mother for failure to keep a child in school a reasonable and proper time may appear harsh, yet such penaltiesare imposed by civilized laws and communities. It may, however, to the credit of parents, be said that statistics show that they are rarely imposed and more rarely executed. The fact of the law and the power to compel attendance usually operate so as to accomplish the desired ends. It is respectfully recommended that Congress b requested to enact the following into law: The Oommissioner of Indian Afiirs is hereby authorized and directed to plsee every Indim child of school age in some school, where there are suitable m m - . modations for such child, under such nles and regulations as he may prescribe for the enforcement of this law, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior. . Ae far as practicable favorable consideration shall be given to the wishes of an edn- , cated Indian parent in the selection of the school to which his child ahzll be hent. |