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Show 4 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS service by this cliss of employees, who number about 100. She will promote efficiency and unlty in their efforts, coordinating their ac-tivities with the general health policy of the bureau, and maintain a continuous campaign for better. home conditions among the In-dians. It is hoped that her endeavors will have .earnest cooperation by white communities everywhere in the Indian country. UN~I~FILLNEEDED S.-In last year's report there was presented the need for sanatoria schools of greaternumber, for hospitals for in-curable patients suffering from tuberculosis, and for an institution for crippled children. These needs are still partially unsatisfied. With the increase in hospital facilities already planned for, the situation with reference togeneral hospital and sanatorium treat-. ment will to a considerable extent be improved; but the plea of the underprivile ed children with their longing for sympathy, encour-agement, an 8 the opportunity for self-expression and happiness is still unheeded. The crippled child is not asking for charity, but for simple justice, which is his birthright. The community owes these unfortunate children a right to all that science can do to give them a fair chance in the competitive race of life. . . ACKNOWLEDQMENTS.O-TE~c~e of Indian Affairs desires to ex-press its appreciation of all the efforts that have been made by vari-. ous agencles and individuals to cooperate with it in its purpose ta improve the health and sanitary condition for the Indian people. Among the organizations that should be mentioned particularly are the American Red Cross, the Ndtional Health Council, the United Statespublic Health Service, and the various State and county boards of he-alth. There are also a large number of public-spirited. organizations and citizens who have shown their friendliness to the cause. Grateful acknowledgment ismade to all, including the Conl gress of the United States for increasing the appropriations for the . . current year's health work. - - ' . SCHOOLS ~ m ~ ~ a ~ o ~ . - ~ n r o aln~d matetendta nce in most of the GO ; ernment schools have been equal to capacity, the exceptions resulting mainly from frequent epidemics of contagious diseases, particularly in the Southwest.. In a few instances lack of funds to employ teach-, ers or to purchase e uipment and supplies has prevented capacity attendance. The hig1 er cost of nearly all classes of supplies last. year seriously. handicapped school work., Not infrequently funds. wereinsufficient to provide actual neqssities and too often day-school children were not properly clothed and nourished. Until more lib-. eral appropriations for maintenance.: can be procured attendance should not be further inoreased. . Congress;has been fairly Liberal in appropriating funds for increasi~schoocl apacity and rapid prog-: ress is. being made toward.provid+g facilities for all Indian chil-drenof school age, but funds for .equipment and maintenance hay.&. not been increased according to peeds. This has made it necessary to shorten the school term somewhat, limiting it to nine months: On .account of home conditions quite generally among Indians, it would be desirable to. lengthen the term rather than to shorten it.. It is believed, however, that we have almost reached the peak of. * > , . |