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Show 420 IlEPORT OP THE SUPEBlNTENDENT OF INDIAN SCHOOLS. for pu ils has been adopted at most schools where conditions are fav !ofra le. A pamphlet containing outline courses and sample les-sons for the guidance of teachers was prepared and sent to the field during the year. The installation of irrigating systems in a number of localities has induced more Indians to till their land, and crops generally this year have been good. As you are aware, the day schools are the initial and most im-portant element in the education of the Indian, and it is gratifying to be able to state that during the past year noticeable improvements have been made-better class-room methods, larger gardens, better bathing facilities, and more attention to the instructions of the Office to provlde a substantial hot luncl~eonf or the children. The Govern-ment day-school ration issued this year, supplemented by vegetables from the school garden, has been ample in the majority of cases to provide a wholesome meal, and the preparation of it furnishes an opportunity for the good housekeeper to instruct the girls in cooking, etc. Teachers and housekeepers who are not hampered by 'small children of their own have complied with the instructions relative to spending part of their time visiting the homes of pupils and instruct-ing the parents in the proper modes of living. The day-school teachers on the Pine Ridge Reservation made 920 such visits during the year, and the houselree ers 474. There can be little dou%t that many children enter school with constitutions predisposed to tuberculosis, and by your direction no efforts have been spared to prevent its develo ment. The most hopeful method of combating this disease it to ejucate the children to realize the insanitary conditions under which their parents live, and to instruct them as to the necessary precautions to be observed. Special attention has been given to the sanitar condition of schools, and thru the influence of returned students tT I e necessity of venti-lation and better constructed houses is becoming more apparent to the Indians. Many children come to school with naturally weak eyes, and the following instructions were sent to superintendents : Pupils who hare neak eyes should not be allowed to conrentrate them for lo116 periods on tine print. Small stitchew. etc. The evenings should be devoted Iul.xeIv to re( reaII\'e auai isntermininr exercises of an educat!vechnrncter. In this connection your attention is caiikd to the chapter in the Course of Study eutltlea "The evening hour." The suggestions oEered therein will be of material assistance in arranging the program. The beneficial results of educational work among the Indians are ai Ep arent in the general improvement of their conditions, and the a vancement made during the past year is encouraging. A number of pupils who have received industrial training at the schools have found employment in various occupations and industries requiring manual skill, and it is believed that when employees become thoroly familiar with the desires of the OEce and the details of its educa-tional policy a greater number of Indians will become self-supporting each year. In conclusion, I wish to express my deep appreciation of the strong support you have given me in my work. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, ESTELLE REEL, Superintendent of Indian Schoo1.s. The COMMISSIONEORF INDIAANFF AIRS. |