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Show REPORT OF OOMMISSIOBER OR INDIAN AFFAIRS. 135 NATIVE MUSIC AND FOLKLORE. By your in?truction, a circular was issued discontinuing even$g classes, and directing that the evening. hour be devoted to exercises of an educative and recreative character, vaned as much as practi- . cable and adapted tp meet local needs, the age, and physical condition of pupils. In some of the schools the older children are called to-gether at regular intervals and employees give talks ,on subjects bearing directly on school work. At other times pupils listen to tales of adventure, exploration, travel, etc., and.are encouraged to tell in their own way stones they have heard their parents relate around the camp fire-stories of the hunt, of prowess, and of the ideals and fancies of the triba, We have endeavored .to have the singing of native tribal songs even a prominent place m the musical exercises, so that pupils may not drop and forget the musie of their ancestors. Many of the large boarding schools have band instructors and the rendition of Indian music is encouraged. ECONOMY AND THRIFT. As you are aware, years of dependence upon government support has not had a tendency to make the Indian frngal, and weare endeap-oring to teach habits of thrift and economy to Inhan chldren while attending school. With your. approval a circul?r was sent to !he .field calling attention to the importance of haplng pupils practice economy in the use of supplies in class room, lntchen, sewing room, shops, and all other departments of the school. Pupils derivmg money from the outing system, or other sources, are encouraged to spend i t judiciously, and in no case tl, expend more than one-th~rdf or incidentals, and to deposit the remainder m bank. The necessity of providing against sickness and enforced idleness is also, impre~sed upon pupils, and this custom of saving a portion of thar earnings implants habits of thrift and economy. COMMENCEEKENT EXERCISES. The commencement exercises of the scho!astic year just closed have .been more along the practical lines you or~ginated. At a number of the schools the principal features dealt with roblems which pupils will face in the workaday world, and th e! Ita s and demonstrations by graduating students, on such topics as " What I intend doing with my allotment," " Carpentering," ' Nursing,". et?., . brought out dis-tinctly the practical training the Government is gvmg Indian pupils. HYGIENIC CONDITIONS AT INDIAN SCHOOLS. Your order creating health officers and dividing reservations into sanitary districts has produced beneficial results, and we have pointed out to school employees the necessity of cooperating with them. We have observed the sanitary conditions at schools inspected, and wherever m y laxness was apparent have endeavored to correct it. Class-room teachers have been instructed to emphasize each day the importance of observing the laws of hygiene and sanitation, and to |