The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-08-21
lUf VIEkII WASHINGTON uTTEk
CHANGES MUST BE MADE IN TER
RITORY SCHOOL SYSTEM.
CemmissioneF Jones URGES some Rsd:-
cal Changes and Recommends That
the Entire School System be Con-
trolled by Interior Department.
Special to the Ardmoreite.


Indian Affairs will make a strong
recommendation for a sweeping
change in the school system now in
force in the territory o. the Ave civ
being under the control of the prin-
cipal chiefs of the various nations,
As now exists. Commissioner Jones
will urge that they be transferred to
the control of the officers of the.fed-
eral government. Such a change,
IN the opinion of Commissioner Jones
and others who have given the sub
iect careful. consideration, is abso-
lutely essential to the proper educa-
ton of the children residing in the
Territory.
Reports received from the superin-
tendent of schools in the Indian Ter
ritory indicate that the affairs of the
schools and orphan asylums in the
several nations are in most unsat-
isfactory and unstable condition;
that many of the school officials of
the several nations are incompetent;
that favoritism in the manner of ap-
pointment of teachers and other en-
ployees is freely practiced; that un-
due influence is frequently exerted
in order to obtain positions in the
school service, and that school funds
in some instances have been negli-
gently and carelessly expended.
These practices have been carried
on to such an extent that, in the
opinion of the school superintendent
for the Territory, the only way they
can be broken up is by placing the
entire school system of the Territory
under the control of the interior de-
partment.
The reports received indicate a
startling condition of nepotism and
favoritism existing. In one of the
nations it is asserted that the chair
man of the school board has in Of
fee his sister, two rs-in-law, his
uncle, his aunt, his brother-in-law's
daughter and six cousins. The sec
retary of the same board, according
to the report, stands related to the
appointees as follows: One brother,
two brothers-in-law, one uncle, one
aunt and five cousins. This same
condition of affairs was complained
of by the superintendent nearly a
year ago, and although the depart
ment called the attention of the prin-
cipal chief to the reports no changes
were made.
There are twenty-one boarding
schools in the Territory, and it is re-
ported that not more than four OF
the superintendent are competent
to teach the ordinary English
branches, yet these responsible and
important superintendents' positions
have been regarded as political pre-
requisites and no educational stand
ard or requirement is demanded OF
them. The superintendents usually
appoint the teachers in charge of the
neighborhood schools and employed
in the boarding schools. The schools,
therefore reflect the incompeteucy OF
their heads, and the work performed
must necessarily be of an exceed
ingly low grade. Parents do not ap-
pseciate the Importance of regular
attendance. upon the schools, and
superintendents and teachers do not
Io$S S11r1 Vnfn f0 a
ones, nor, in one sense of the word
can blame attach to parent who ia
unwilling to place his children under
such incompetent instructors.
The financial management of the
boarding schools is most deplorable
For boarding school of one hun.
dred pupils, it has been customary
for the Indian authorities to annually
appropriate $40, 600 for board, cloth
ing, medical attendance and books.
| One-fourth of this amount is paid in
warrants to such superintendent in
advance at the beginning of the
quarter. The superintendent has
been allowed to dispense these war
rants as he pleased, often discount
| ing them for cash or trading them to
merchants for provisions. Such pro-
cedure on the part of the manager
of a boarding school or orphan asy.
lum engenders carelessness in ex-
penditures and frequently causes 9
deficit. If the hardships would fall
alone on the superintendent it might
be overlooked, but in many instances
teachers have to wait year or more
for their salaries, or heavily discount
the warrants issued to them. Mer-
chants who furnish supplies for the
maintenance of the school are also
compelled to discount their warrants
or wait long terms for payment
Taken into connection with theil
own circle of employees and the gen
eral conduct of the school, it seems
that the superintendent are only in
terested in the school to the extent
of the amount of money they. may
be able to make out of the institu-
tion.
1t is estimated that there are 225,.
600 white people in the Indian Terri.
tory, which would give white scho.