Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-11-08
SCHOOLS ARE NEEDED
Conditions Among Pueblo and Jica-
rilla Indians Imperatively De-
mand Better Educational
Facilities,
AGENT WALPOLE'S REPORT
Synopsis of An Interesting and Instructive
Document Showing Exact Status of
Affairs, With Suggestions As to
Desired Improvements.

l
and Jicarila Indian agency, whose
headquarters are in this city, has sub
mitted his annual report for the fiscal
year ending June 30 to the Office of In
dian affairs at Washington. From a
| copy of this report number of valua-
bic facts are CLEANED, and a synopsis
of the report is hereby given. The Pue-
bio Indians are treated of first. There
are Is pueblos, with a population of
9,494 people, of whom 2,475 are men over
| is years of age and 2,64S women over IA
years old, with 1897 school children be-
| tween 6 and 16 years of age Of this
| latter number, GAL are attending or have
attended school, while 1856 are not at
| tending school. There were 10 pueblos
but the Pojoaque Pueblo Indians num-
bering 20 have united with the Nambe
| Pueblo; a wise movement, in the
agents estimation. The Pueblos are
practically self supporting, with their
thousands of acres of farm lands and
goats. Many Of the people live in we'll
built and attractive adobe houses, sur
rounded by well kept orchards, and all
the lands are irrigated Some of the
pueblos as the Taos Indians raise
sufficient wheat and oats to supply
themselves and surrounding towns. The
agent advises that a few practical
farmers be sent to give these Indians
practical hints, as the results would be
highly profitable. In the matter of
threshing, in particular, they need in
Struction; also the introduction of
threshing and tanning machines, as at
present only the most primitive meth
DDS are resorted to, and these methods
are very wasteful, as might be expect
ed. Modern machinery would greatly
encourage them, to say nothing of the
saving effected.
There are IA day schools under this
agency and one contract boarding
school at Bernalilo, which is we'll kept
However, the day schools are in bad
shape, being held in rickety buildings
rented from the Indians or church peo-
pie; some of them have no floors, lack
ventilation, have an insufficient water
supply and are often dependent upon
the school children for fuel. A few of
the Indians refuse to send their chill
dren to school for this reason. At Zuni,
for instance, on. 40 children out of
about 800 attend school, and a compul-
sorry school law is necessary, for in the
entire agency only 16 per cent of the
scholastic population attend school. A
compulsory law could be enforced, for
the Pueblos are an obedient people.
This matter is earnestly urged. Then
list of teachers, as follows:
The Acoma school, which the Indians
claim belong to them, and which should
be purchased. Present enrolment, IT;
average attendance, 81; expected in
crease 400 per cent; scholastic popula-
ton, 200; teacher, Miss Cora A. Taylor
Cochti rented building inadequate,
new one should be built; enrolment,
80; average attendance, 1925; probable
increase 40 per cent; school popula-
tion, 93; teacher, Mrs J. B. Grozier.
Isleta, rented building with wretched
equipment and adjoining q smallpox
grave yard. Immediate sanitation relief
is demanded Present enrolment, 29;
average attendance, 1880; probable in
crease, $3.50; school population, 122;
teacher, James Hovey.
Laguna, a new and adequate building
should be erected at once. Present en-
rolment, "a; average attendance 15.7;
probable increase, so per cent; school
population, "a; teacher, Miss Annie M.
| Nichols
Pahuate, building in fair repair, but
too small, and new one is needed.
| Present enrolment SO; average at
tendance, 1913; probable increase, 20
per cent; school population 125; teach
er, Mrs. Annie M. Sayre.
Jemez, building in good condition, and
should be bought by the government.
Present enrolment, 81; average at
tendance, 26.5; probable increase, 20
per cent; school population, 131; teach
err Miss Emma Dawson.
Santa Clara building totally made
quate and poor equipment; new plant
is needed at once. Present enrolment,
33; average attendance, 14.96; probable
increase, 25 per cent; school population,
"a teacher, William P. Taber.
San Felipe, rented building of no ac-
count, and new one badly needed. Pres
ant .. 90 of
l76; probable increase, so per cent;
school population, SO; teacher, w. c. B.
Biddle.
San Juan, school building part of
Catholic church; new one very much
needed. Present enrolment, 1873; prob
able increase, 30 per cent; school popu-
lation, S5; teacher, Felipe Valdez.
Santo Domingo the ownership of the
school house is disputed. Present en-
rollment, 81; average attendance, laps;
probable increase, Is per cent; school
population, 22S; teacher, w. L. Holsin-
ger.
| San Idelfonso, rented school building
in poor shape, and new structure IS
indispensable to good conduct of the
school, Present enrolment, 2S; aver
age attendance, II 1-3; probable in
crease, 20 per cent; school population,
"A; teacher, Thomas Dozier.
Taos, the rented building leaks and
the doors and windows do not fit, max
ing it cold in winter; part of the time
there is no fire. A new school building
is indispensable. Present enrolment,
| 81; average attendance, 25.25; proba-
BILE increase, 25 per cent; school popu-
lation, IS: teacher. Mrs. Alice G. Dwire.
Zia, school building is in lamentable
condition, in fact not fit for stable. A