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Show COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 5 herds, and living in the temporary summer wigwams or in the winter mud hogans without any of the conveniences and comforts of even the most primitive civilized life we could understand why they should feel that Washington, the dreat Father, had forgotten his red children. When asked what they wanted most, they in-variably said, " Water and education," and these are the first great needs. Following the vision that education will give them will come the better home life. Last year there was a very general drought throughout almost all of the Indian country in the Southwest. Following the war period the price of wool and of stock had gone down to less than cost of production. The Indians,, as well as other people, must have some way to gain their livehhood. There was an unusually large crop of iiion nuts, ,and the Indians, facing necessity, took advantage of t g e opportunity and last year gathered and marketed $550,000 worth of these nuts, which were sold at from 10 to 20 cents er pound This is mentioned not only to commend their remarfable induitry but to show that the only feasible education for the children is in boarding schools. Entire families went wher-ever the piiion nuts could be found., In the Papago country, whole villages have been abandoned be-cause of the drought and the people have gone, as they should, to places where work has been available. Surely these people who are so resourceful and who demonstrate ability to meet economic emergencies such as would tax the most intelli&ent, thoroughly trained people, are worthy of assistance in educatin their children. ~ c h o o gsh ould be provided for all of t b I ndians of the Southwest within the next four or five years. The fulfillment of the promise of the Government made half a century ago (treaty of i868), must be accomplished. knowing the conditions and needs, who will say "no"? As Commissioner of Indian Affairs, I am not willing to longer overlook the failure to provide schools for these native Americans. REVISIONO F COURSE OF s~mq.-While in conference during July and August the school supervisors, with the assistance of a few superintendents and instructors from representative schools, made a revision of the tentatlye course of study whlch was prepared for use in Indian schools and introduced in 1916. As now revised the coufse will parallel more closely the grades of the public schools in which there is a rapidly increasing enrollment of Indian children and the industrial courses are improved,to harmonize with the academic re-vision, some additional work belug provided relating to gas engines and auto mechanics to meet the ever increasing demand of the times. The course is now in effect and was published in loose-leaf form, making it convenient to revise any port~on, if desired, without the expense of an entire reprint. In applying this course of study the steadfast purpose and practice will be to furnish the largest poss~ble number of Indian children with a good academic and industrial edncation. UNIFORME XAMINATION.-Icno nnection .with the use of the uniform course of study, the requirement of uniform examinatlous at the middle and close of the year is deemed necessar to malntain work and supervision at a satisfactory standard in sc! l001s located in all |