Arizona citizen., 1873-03-15

| COuLluueU TOUT ulOuIuS. AhO "'CioSC daily attendance was thirty-one. The trustees and teacher speak very en- couragingly of the progress made by the pupils. School district No. 3, at Florence, has been recently organized.
 A school house has been erected at a cost of about $1,2OO, by subscription, and school was opened December 16, and a regular attendance of about forty pupils is anticipated. School district No. f, at Tucson, has been organized, in which school for girls will be opened by the first of next month. The Sisters of St. Joseph have been employed to teach the schools under the public school law which excludes all religious teaching. Note. The Sisters finally declined to not take charge of the school as here stated but early in February, public school for girls was opened by Mrs. L. C. Hughes, which is we'll attended, marked by excellent progress, and the attendance is rapidly increasing. ED. CITIzEN.]
 The Sisters of St. Joseph have taught private school Gin Tucson) for girls since June, 1870. The whole number of pupils enrolled, has been 23O, and the average daily attendance 112 of this number sixty have at tended regularly since the commence ment. The Sisters have been un- wavering in efforts to improve the pupils under their charge. which has resulted in giving many a very good education who would otherwise have been compelled to remain in ignorance. The last legislature appropriated $500 for the benefit of this school, to be taken from the general fund and deducted from school moneys to be paid to Pima county; but on account of conflicting sections of the school law, 1t has been impossible to pay it. l deem it but justice that early pro- vision be made for its payment.
 For a further and more detailed statement of the school interests in Pima county, I respectfully refer you to the very interesting report of the county superintendent, Hon. l.. c. Hughes, @ copy of which is herewith transmitted.
 SCHOOLS AMONG HE INDIANS.
 Feeling a deep interest ill the ex- pertinent being made to educate the children of Pima and Maricopa h. dians, 1 addressed letter of inquiry to the Rev. c. H. Cook, who is en- gagged in teaching on their reserve. l herewith give a copy of his reply, as the best means of communicating to you the success of his self-sacrifc- ing labors:
 PIMA VILLAGES, A. T.,
 December IS, lo72.
 Hon. A. P. K. Saford, Governor of Ari- zona Territory. Dear Sir: Your con- came to hand, and I will en- deavor to give you the desired information.
 1 was employed as teacher, January I. 1871, by Agent Grossman, and commenced | keeping school 18th February following, in small room at the agency building. | During the latter half of the year, lady | teacher was employed. In October, 1871, | a school was commenced at a Maricopa | and half miles from the agency. The building there was put up by the Indians, and though better than none, proved inadequate 10 keep out sand storms or the cold. At present, am glad to be able 10 state, large and comfortable room has been completed there. The Pima children which attend school at the agency, nave to come a distance of two and one- half miles and over; this with other cir has caused very irregular at- tendance, and though the teachers have furnished the scholars a daily lunch of bread, we have found it impossible thus ar to secure as regular attendance here as tt Maricopa village. To the credit of the oimas, however, I must say, that they rave offered several times tn build a school louse, near their homes, as good as they inew how. I hsye been informed that it s the intention of the government agent to lave suitable school house erected in the 'antan village early next Spring. When his is accomplished, our advantages will be much better than they have been thus far.
 The average daily attendance for 1871, t, vas thirty-fve, and during the first half of his year, sixty -four. The average daily ttendance is about sixty per cent. of the I whole number enrolled. ( Concerning their advancement, l would f ay that Indian children, like others, differ / $ to their aptness to acquire an education. nme learn ranidlu others slow: all can earn. Some have met our expectations ; ! g moug those that have not, irregular at $ has been the main cause. The 2 a+e~aet manifested appears to he as good