The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-11-27
cnickAsAw lNulAN SCHOOLS.
A Highly Interesting Report by Com
mlssioner Jones.

0ual report on the educational con-
ditions in the Chickasaw nation
Commissioner OF Indian Affairs |
Jones says:
"Owing to the hostility of the |
portion of the tribe to the
control of the schools by the depart
ment, the "Chickasnw council has
to CONDUCT these insti-
tutions as formerly, supporting them
by appropriations from their own
revenues. AS the coal and asphalt
royalties were not to be used, the |
regulations for education In the In
dian Territory" did not apply to this
nation, which attempts out Of its
common funds to, manage the scho-
lastic interests of its people. Its
Legislature appoints a superintend-
ent of schools, who in turn selects a
local trustee for each school, which
superintendent and trustees consti-
tute the school board of the nation.
The local trustees being the Great
ures of the national superintendent
are removed by him at will. The
present superintendent is q half
blood of some education, but is said
to hare little force of character.
The trustees are generally full
bloods, the majority of whom are
members of the nations legislature.
The neighborhood schools are locat-
ed In isolated communities, patron
ICED principally by full bloods when
patronized ut all. The children in
many instances, and teachers also,
use the Chickasaw vernacular to the
almost total exclusion of the English.
The supervisor of schools for that
nation, in bis report on conditions.
says that the school houses are
mostly small frame buildings fur fur
nished with--ssfe few rough board
Benches with rarely g desk, black
board or writing materials. Many
of the houses are too filthy for
swine to occupy, never having been
cleansed since they we're built; many
CT the children in squalor and rags" P"
Teachers are not chosen by merit
but by favoritism, preference being
given the ChickasaWs when the Local
trustee does not have a non-citizen
who wishes the appointment. Anti
quated books are furnished by the
superintendent at s25 per annum tc
each school. The approximate cost
of the neighborhood schools is s36,
115, or an average cost of $93.54 pei
pupil, children attending these
schools being allowed So per month
for board. AS an illustration of thl
financial methods adopted it is re
ported that this sS is paid in du'
bills or scrip on the nation. Th'
owner of this scrip, if poor, is com
PEELED to discount it at the stores 70
, the necessaries of life at from 25 t.
so per cent. These evidences of in
debtedness are subsequently pre-
sented to the auditing committee o
the nations legislature at its mex
assembling to be passed upon; if al
lowed, d warrant is issued therefor
which, unless paid by favored one
, is subject to further discount at tn
pleasure of the banks or none
lenders.
There were seventeen of thes
3 neighborhood schools operated dul
ing the year.
Five boarding schools, with en-
, rollment of 346 pupils. cost the na
tion s57, ,115. These are supporte
under five-year contracts with th
superintendents. and the supervise
e for the nation says: ''Of the fiv
e superintendents only two are CON
E peteut to teach the common schoC
branches" Under the terms of th
contract the superintendent receive
> a stipulated sum per annum for th
q board, tuition, medical attention an
q maintenance of the pupils, base
upon a specified number, without IT
gard to the average attendance
This opens wide the door for frau
and malfeasance on the part of thoe
so inclined. The authority OF tb
superintendent Is paramount in a
: appointments of his employees an
s frequently nepotism prevails to a
t, alarming extent. Sanitary cond
g tions are entirely neglected, but it
remarked that some of the superil
tendents are weli-meaning men WI
J do the best they can for the childre
70 while others are unfit morally ar
= educationally for the positions the
# hold.
;. Supervisor Simpson reports tina
while he is unable to get accura
u data concerning expenditures Il
= schools, yet he is informed that II
q outstanding warrant Indebtedness
is this nation ia between s95, 900 an
=, sl1O, 900; that the Chickasaw superi
: tendent has issued certificates du
D ing the year to 175 Ohickasaw ch
ID dren to attend non-citizen schoc
le in the nation, each of which wou
a. be entitled to SO to S14 per mont
m approximating SIG, 800; for the So
port of Ave academies. S57 .115; I
e II neighborhood schools, S36 6,115,
is a total expense fer schools for t
lis year of S110, 900, which it has sin
~ been discovered will exceed tn,
a-o3lmAl1