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Show COMMISSIONnB OF INDIAN AFFAYRS. 2 3- .. . rence, Kans.; Santa Fe., N. Mex.; Sherman Institute, Riverside, .Cal.; Salem Indian School, Chemawa, Oreg. jToinah,. Wls.; and Rapid City, S. Dak. The superintendents of all of the schools of the United States, except 10, were present. The total attendance was approximately 1,600. Those present represented all departments .of . ' Indian schools, industrial as well as academic, and also all phases of' reservation work. In addition to a varied program of regular elas inshetion, in which English, agriculture, home economies, and health were emphasized, daily group conferences were held, at which all of the details of the course of study were thoroughly discussed. General conferences were also held and the aims and purposes of - the course, as well as ways and means of organizing the schools to meet its requirements, were fully discussed. With the-attendallce at - these institutes being equal to one-half of the entire Indian school employee force, or to one-fourth of the whole number employed in the Indian Service, the aims and purposes not only of the new course '- of study but of the many and varied problems of the Indian Bureau are undoubtedly better understood and more keenly appreciated than . ' - ever before, and thus indirectly the preparation and introduction of the new course of study has become a means of vitalizing and unify- , jng the work of the entire servi6. : Definite plans have already been made for the complete installa- . tion of the course in every school of the service during the' coming ' year. Some revision of the course will be made during the year - . '9 and undoubtedly will be found advisable from time to tiide inthe 3 : future, but as a whole it has been found to be very practical and comprehensive. As'intimated at the beginning of -this section of the report, it is . believed that the preparation and introduction of the new vocational I ' coirse of study marks an epoch in In'dian education and through the '. - emphasis of vocational education and training the beginning of a ,, . . . . new era in Indian life and accomplishments. As a corolIary to the course of study and for the purpose of obtain- , ' ing more efficient instruction, I have directed that the .teachers of the service should hereafter be gradedand judged largely by their success in passingat least 70 per cent of the pupils of their classes. - I t will be necGsary, however, for the pupil to actually accomplish the work before being so promoted and steps will be taken to guard against any promotions which are not warrant& , TI& will be accomplished by conducting uniform examinations for 'all Ipdian .. . schools throughout the United States. NAVAJO SCHOOL PACILPPIEB. . . The school facilities for the Indians of the several Navajo reser-vations in Arizona and New ~ e x i c oha ve been woefully inadequate, |