Senate Documents, Otherwise Publ. as Public Documents and Executive Documents

Sec. 3. That no certificate shall be granted to any person to teach in the public schools of the District of Columbia or Territories, after the first day of January, anno Domini eighteen hundred and eighty-eight, who has not passed a satisfactory examination in physiology and hygiene, with special reference to the nature and the effects of alcoholic drinks and other narcotics upon the human system.1

The superintendent of Indian schools, in his report of 1886, says: There are upwards of 12,000 Indians children now attending school, exclusive of those attending the schools of the five civilized tribes and those supported by the State of New York. There are at least as many more whose attendance could be readily secured, for which provision should be made at the earliest practicable moment. The construction of the necessary school buildings and the expense attending the maintenance of the schools and the supplemental work of settling Indians on lands will necessitate larger appropriations for a term

of years. It should be borne in mind that a large portion of the funds now appropriated and used for educational purposes belongs to the Indians, and is in this way only legally available.

Nearly three times as much money is now spent annually by the War Department in keeping the Indians in subjection as is expended in their civilization and educa tion. It is not creditable to us as a nation that so much should be used to keep the Indian in subjection, while so little is expended to improve his condition. By act of Congress, May 17, 1882,3 the President was authorized to appoint a person to inspect all Indian schools, who is hereby required to report a plan for carrying into effect, in the most economical and efficient manner, all existing treaty stipulations for the education of Indians, with careful estimates for educating youths for whom no such provision now exists, and estimates of what sums can be saved from existing expenditures for Indian support by the adoption of such plan, whose compensation shall not exceed $3,000, which sum is hereby ap propriated for that purpose, and also a further sum of $1,500 for his necessary travelling expenses.

In the Indian appropriation act approved March 1, 1883, the title of superintendent is given to the office."

Mr. J. M. Haworth was appointed to the office, which he held until his death in March, 1885. In May Mr. John H. Oberly was appointed, but in May, 1886, he resigned, and Mr. John B. Riley was appointed to the office. In 1888 Mr. Riley resigned, and in October Mr. Samuel H. Albro was appointed superintendent of Indian schools.

The Indian appropriation act, approved June 29, 1888, provides in section 8 as follows:

There shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, a person of knowledge and experience in the management, training, and practical education of children, to be Superintendent of Indian Schools, who shall, from time to time, and as often as the nature of his duties will permit, visit the schools where Indians are taught, in whole or in part, by appropriations from the United States Treasury, and shall, from time to time, report to the Secretary of the Interior what, in his judgment, are the defects, if any, in any of them in system, in administration, or in means for the most effective advancement of the children in

United States Statutes at Large, Vol. XXIV, p. 69. 2 Report of Indian Commissioner, 1886, p. LXXXVI. 3 United States Statutes at Large. Vol. XXII, p. 68. United States Statutes at Large, Vol. XXII, p. 434.

COURSE OF INSTRUCTION.

173

them toward civilization and self-support; and what changes are needed to remedy such defects as may exist; and shall, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, employ and discharge superintendents, teachers, and any other person connected with schools wholly supported by the Government, and with like approval make such rules and regulations for the conduct of such schools as in his judgment their good may require. The Secretary of the Interior shall cause to be detailed from the employés of his Department such assistants, and shall furnish such facilities as shall be necessary to carry out the foregoing provisions respecting said Indian schools.

The general policy of the Department in regard to Indian education is to teach the pupil to speak, read, and write the English language, to give him a knowledge of arithmetic, geography, and United States history, and also to instruct him in farming, the care of stock, and the trades. Girls are to be taught all branches of housekeeping, butter and cheese making, to cut and make and mend garments, to care for the sick, to cook, wash, and iron.2

A farm and garden are to be connected with each school, and onehalf of the school time devoted to industrial training. An evening session is to be held for reading, study, singing, and other exercises.5 A Sabbath-school or some other suitable service is to be held every Sunday, which pupils are required to attend.5 Superintendent, matron, and employés are to reside in the boarding-school building. Superintendents are required to make a monthly report in detail to the agent, showing attendance, progress, health of pupils, and to account for all issues and expenditures made during the month."

A contract school is one wherein the Government pays a stated sum for each pupil, and the religious society provides the teachers and pays their salaries and other expenses of the school. The buildings are generally furnished by the society.

STATISTICS OF INDIAN EDUCATION.

The following statistics are from the Report of 1885. They are given to present a picture at a definite period, and to show the need of increased rather than diminished appropriations for Indian schools. Not only do the schools already established require each year larger amounts to meet the requirements created by their own work, but there is as yet not sufficient school accommodation for the entire Indian school population. The fact that the Indians are already by law on the threshold of citizenship makes the necessity for more schools and better equipped schools a national need. For later statistics see the reports of the superintendent for Indian schools, and reports of Indian Commissioner.

1 Regulations of the Indian Department, 1884, secs. 500, 502, 503, 504, 517, rule 7. Ibid., sec. 517, rules 8, 15, 16, 17. 3 Ibid., sec. 517, rule 6. Ibid., sec. 517, rule 5. 7 Ibid., secs. 509-512.

Ibid., sec. 517, rule 22.

Ibid., sec. 517, rule 23.