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Show I REPORT OF THE CO~MMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. a all classes, whether Government, mission, ublic, or private. As the large majority of Indian children in Okla 71 oma are enrolled in pub-lic schools, special attention was given to both rural and city schools b of the class attended by Indians. A discussion of the conclusions reached by the survey will not be practicable within the limits of this re ort, but they deal with such matters as nontaxable Indian land, t E e adaptation of educational methods and subject matter to the needs of Indian children, the question of when the Government should withdraw and leave the responsibilit of Indian education entirely to the State,, and other important su%jects. Because of its large Indian population, the State of Oklahoma is looking forward b to a larger responsibility in the education of all its citizens, and it is believed that the surve committee's report is worthy of careful study as regards approacting conditions m that and other States. Co les of the committee's report, published December 11, 1922, may lb!e ad on application to the Commissioner of Education, Washing-ton, D. C., or the State superintendent of schools of Oklahoma. THEC ALIFORNICAO NFERENCE.-ASin Oklahoma, there are ques-tions of Indian education of great importance to the citizenry of California, in view of mliich some of the school officials of the lat-ter State suggested a conference of State and Federal officers look-in to closer cooperation in the education of Indian children in the pu%lic schools of California. Such a conference mas held at Sac-ramento in January, 1923, at which State Superintendent Will C. TVood presided, and was attended by school officials, health officers, and representative people from all parts of the State. The immedi-ate result was a better understanding of all phases of the problem of Indian education in California and a mutual agreement between Government and State authorities to cooperate in securing for In-dian children opportunities equal to those of all other nationalities. The conclusions of the conference called attention to approximately 500 Indian children in California not attending any school, due chiefly to social and econonlic causes, such as orphanage, abandoned children, and those from homes of low standard. It was indicated that the State n~ould accept responsibility for children in public-school districts, if their home conditions made them acceptable under the law, but that Congress should provide additional board-ing- school capacity for at least 200, available first to the needs of California Indians. Health conditions were also made the subject of a resolution based upon the claim that the supervision by public-health nurses is es-sential to render many Indian children acceptable in the public schools and asking that Congress make a special appropriation of $25,000 annually to aid a like expense of the State in the extension of necessary nursing service. I t is believed that through such conferences in the Indian country a better understanding and cooperation can be secured, particn-larly in the direction of enrolling Indian children in the public schools, which is a rapidly vowing movement. The people in a number of States are encouraging it. They are apparaently anxious to find a solution of the problem before the Government transfers it entirely to the States. The Government may wisely stress this |
