The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-27
THE CONTRACT INDIAN scHootA
The LarEs PORT Uaderthken by the caths-
lies IL EdncntInr tho KcA Children.

the CONTRACT INDIAN SCHOoLG
The Larrs Port Undertnken by the Catho-
| lies IN EducntlnE the Rcd Childreh.
wAsHrEoToN. July 26.-The action taken on
the Indian Appropriation bill by tho Senate
must be regarded as favorable to the denom-
national or contract schools II is true that
some appropriations for institutions controlled
directly by the Indian Bureau brought the
latter into apparent competition with one OF
two existing mission schools. But this result
must be more and more expected in successive
years. Tho true ground on this much disputed
subject Is that the Government should steadily
and literally increase its own provisions for
tho education Of Indian youth, while weleom-
ing the aid Afforded by tho missionary institu-
lions II in some instances the same ground
is covered by both, there need be little
| fear for the present that the supply OF
facilities will prove greater than the need. OF
course II is highly desirable nat efforts should
first be directed to establishing schools where
there are none whatever; and II was on this
ground that Mr.. Vest and other Senators op.
posed an item of the current bill which pro-
vides for erecting a school building at the
Blackfeet agency In Montana. where Catho-
lie mission school has been recently COM
peed But on tho other hand. the Senate re-
fused to strike out q liberal appropriation for
educating hundred Indian children at this
Same misson school. and 1t agreed to an item
for educating a like number at the new 81.
Bonifaee's school in California, and to one for
educating sixty pupils at st. Josoph's school in
Indiana.
So long rs the needs of Indian education are
pressing. the alliance OF the denominatlonal
schools should be gratefully sought. The In
terror Department in its report OF year before
Apt net m tad q Ara
10000 Indian youths OF teachabls age and
within range Of educational facilities who
ought now to BIO undergoing instruction" As
only few hundred moro were gathered in
during The following year. it is quito evident
that the important aid furnished by the relig-
ious schools should not DO underrnted. 1t
was on this ground that tho friends OF
these schools objected to tho programme
laid down by Commissioner Morgan when
he entered mt upon his Office This pro.
ernment SCHOOLS INV in which The eco Contract IN.
situations were TO 10 turned Rdrift. An cutlery
was raised: on the ground that this was almost
breach OF faith since hundreds Of thousands
OF dollars had been invested In those institu-
tions by the various churches, on the supposi-
ton that the Government would continue TO
place Indian pupils in them, at least until after
adequate notice irum Congress OF q change OF
polcy:, II was aiterward explained that hat, The
ultimate aim should be, and that be would not
urge breaking of relations with the mission
The contract schools not only educate thou
sands OF indian children VINO would Otherwise
eos 10 The all b1 ey do
eibIe In its own schools. Since the religious
denominations build their schools at their own
they can afford TO take in Government pupils
at z rate less than the cost In the schools con
reaa, e hs TO no tie 81
schools there WAS an average attendance If
2,I5 pupils. At an AVERAGE cost Of e2O.6l peg
the schools conducted by tho Indian BureaQ
itself was $50 is. the AVERAGE Of those opera ed
In the lis boardipT schools, With an average
attendance Of g. $50 pupils, the average cost rer
pupil Of tho bureau schools was 1888, while
Tho last annual report made by Secretary
noble is as convipcing on TIL; point as that Of
controlled directly BY the Indian bureau. with |
their 20 employees, their enrolment 81 1853
scholars. and heir average attendanceof1, -.
20 contract schools, With 43 employees, where |
the Government had 1907 pupils enrolled; with
only SIG I39 But the difference was still moro
IS controlled by the bureau, with $50 employees
average atten1ance OF 1851. cost 524,265. But
the 80 contract sch OILS. with 53s employees
attendance OF 9.2l3, cost the Coz ernment but
$2y.993. -Four OF these latte schools are con-
uuCteu Dy religious EOcletlc6. WHICH receive
from tho Government. without formal contract
only rations and clothing tor the pupils. l! is
clcar, therefore. that the contract schoo give
a full eGui, alent for the appropriations made
to them. and are an economy as Well as help
to the Governmc mt in education.
TIE three items OF the current bill which
caused most oil the discussion in the Senate
We're those for the 81. Joserh's. the 81. Boni-
face's. and the Holy Family schools. Commits
Binner Morgan had refused to make contracts
wit them. on the ground that they were new
UNCONVENTIONAL schools. and he was opposed
TO doing more than 10 support those which
already existed. But the House of Represen-
atives took the broader view that since the
Government had not yet scho lis enough OF it's
own II must continue to welcome these allies.
In this policy the Senate concur ed. One re-
suit OF the discussion was to chow how much
lad al eady teen done for Indian education by
he Catholic Church TO which all OF
hese three schools belong. 1t has invested
moro than 3l.u0OOOo In school build;
ngs for the use, Of the Indiana, and
os;ract schools which can educate pupils Tor
he Government. Year before last 1t earned
349,G72 out OF q total Of S47G.1s0 anpropri.
tied for such schools; md last year ii earned
3664 91 out OF . total OF $J06.994 Appropriated.
These figures will show tho extent Of the work
. red on by tho Bureau OF Catholic lB9ian
Missions. Out OF sc contract schools II had 81. |
md. as has been seen. three more have now
cen added. The average attendance III these
han the average in all othors. There are
nany reports in tho Indian ONCE IRON it's
gents as to the remarkable success which tho
'aiholics have had with thoir houls. 70 that
he present action of the h Ouse and the Senate
n reference to the three recently added is