Page 172

172      REPORTS OF THE        DEPARTMENT       OF THE     INTERIOR. 
The Indian school band attends the annual encampment of the Arizona 
National Guard, and one or two companies of Indian school cadets join with
the local companies of the militia in maneuvers and ceremonies on holidays
and special occasions. The frequent inspection of the Indian school companies
by the officers of the National Guard is helpful and encouraging to the military
spirit among the native Americans. 
A conference of returned students was held at the school during April. On
account of the high water, the Gila and Salt rivers being unfordable for
weeks 
at a time, and on account of the work these former students were doing, the
attendance was somewhat reduced, but 125 were enrolled, former students of
Phoenix, Carlisle, Albuquerque, Grand Junction, Santa Fe, Tucson, and some
from other schools. The gathering was very interesting and helpful to all
con- 
cerned. Those present certainly appreciated the work of both Government and
mission schools, and showed that they are actually overcoming the difficulties
they meet in their endeavor to gain a larger life. 
The work in the shops has been quite satisfactory, the boys receiving careful
instruction in the trades and in the manual-training department. 
Early in the spring the Arizona dam was damaged by the high waters in the
river, and for about two months there was no water to irrigate the farm.
As a 
result several large fields of alfalfa that had been sown during the wiliter
and 
spring and which, until the washing away of the dam, promised an excellent
stand, perished. There was one good crop of grain hay. 
The following extracts from the report of the principal teacher show to some
extent what has been done in the literary department: 
The class-room work opened in September with an unusually large attendance.
Thirteen 
teachers reported for duty, but with the large attendance the number of pupils
per teacher, 
including the principal teacher and music teacher, who had no regular classes,
was too 
large to enable the pupils in some of the rooms to do good work. It became
necessary to 
relieve the pressure in some of the rooms. The principal teacher took a class
for half a 
day, but the rooms were still overcrowded and the work so heavy that in January
another 
teacher was asked for.  The request was granted, and the position was permanently
filled in February. 
On Wednesday evenings, with rare exceptions, the teachers of the literary
department 
met to read and discuss practical works on education. Correlation of the
work in the 
different departments of the school and current events were also given special
attention. 
Working with the Hands, by Dr. Booker T. Washington, was rqad and thoroughly
dis- 
cussed during the first half of the year. The Art of Study, by Hinsdale,
was studied 
during the latter part of the year. These meetings were specially helpful.
The work in this department was graded from the introductory class to the
class of 14 
menbers which completed the required work in the common school branches.
The adult 
primary and the young primary pupils were taught in separate classes. Each
class was 
given one period a week in which singing was taught by the teacher in charge
of the 
music. A class of a dozen girls received a half-hour lesson on the piano
for five days in 
the week. 
In connection with the class-room work of this department, and under the
direct care 
of the class-room teachers, 14 gardens were made. Each garden was divided
into 
18 small 4ardens. Two pupils were assigned to each of these to do the necessary
work of preparing soil, planting seed, weeding, etc. In these gardens the
children raised 
good lettuce, turnips, beats, radishes, onions, and squash. Spinach, peas,
and beans Were 
also raised, but not so successfully. The teachers showed great interest
in their work, 
and the pupils thoroughly enjoyed it. 
On Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, Washington's Birthday, Easter, etc., appropriate
exercises were held. The prize speaking programme in March and the commencement
programmes were given great care and attention. 
The pupils of the school were organized into Sunday school classes, each
of which was 
provided with a teacher. A half hour was first spent in the study of the
lesson, followed 
by a half hour general session,which was devoted to singing, etc. A primary
section held 
a session of half an hour for the six lower classes. 
During the latter part of the year the fifth, sixth, and seventh grades attended
school 
all day on alternate days. This weakened rather than strengthened the school-roorn
work. The confinement to mental application for an entire day soon seemed
to produce 
weariness and restlessness, and the pupils failed to show the same ambition
or have the 
same zeal as under the half-day system. Nearly all complained that they could
not think 
as well by.afternoon, and that they found it difficult to remember from class
day to class 
day any work which was left unflished. 
The teachers have shown commendable interest in their work throughout the
year, and 
on the whole the progress in this department has been all that could be expected.
An extract from   a report of the work in the domestic departments, by the
matron, follows: 
The work in the girls' home has been more satisfactory this year than during
the 
preceeding year, on account of the extra assistance allowed there. With two
white women 
and an Indian assistant, it has been possible to have more attention paid
to the details, 
and especially to the care of the girls. The new floors laid in two dormitories
and the 
painting and repairs in different parts of the building have been most satisfactory
improvements, and the condition of the building in general is very satisfactory.
In the 
laundry room in this building the girls do washing for about forty employees
and 
members of their families, and many of the larger girls do much of their
own laundering 
of dresses, etc., here.