Page 637

REPORTS OF SUPERVISORS OF EDUCATION.                  637 
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF EDUCATION, FOURTH DISTRICT. 
IN THE FIELD, iorenber 1, 1892. 
SIR: In obedience to instructions from the Indian Office I have the honor
to 
submit the following report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892. 
The fourth supervisor district comprises Kansas, Oklahoma, and Indian Ter-
ritory. It contains a population of 16,800 souls, 3,200 of whom are of school
age. 
This population is under the jurisdiction of seven agencies, a number of
which 
are consolidated, containing several reservations which were formerly under
the 
supervision of different agents. 
There are nineteen reservation schools in operation in the district, ten
con- 
tract schools, and two industrial training institutions. Of the contract
schools 
but four receive per capita funds for the children in attendance. The others
merely receive rations for the indian pupils in their schools. There is one
res- 
ervation day chool, three having been closed at the end of the fiscal year.
One 
contract school closed the 1st of April and merged into the Government school
near by. 
One reservation boarding school was established during the year and will
soon 
be in operation. A second one, for the Citizen Pottawatomies, has been par-
tially established, the site chosen, and the preliminary measures taken,
looking 
toward immediate operation, in connection with the Absentee Shawnee school
on the reservation under the jurisdiction of the Sac and1 Fox Agency in Okla-
homa. 
I was appointed to the position of supervisor July 14, 1891, and at once
entered 
upon the discharge of duty. 
As a rule I found the schools in good condition, but readily discovered that
the system of inspection which had previously prevailed was not such supervi-
sion as the interests of the schcols demanded. Inspectors and special agents
are 
not always school men. and the business of the agency, as a rule, demands
the 
greater portion of their time, and the inspection of the school is rather
inci- 
dental. The information usually obtained regarding the various interests
of 
the schools was secured from the agent, and as agents are not practical school
men, the inspection was not always what the real conditions indicated. Super-
intendents, as a rule, were not consulted, and often matters that should
have re- 
ceived the attention of the representative of the Government went unnoticed
and without correction. Superintendents of the Government schools, without
exception, have cordially cooperated with me in bringing about desired changes
and are heartily in sympathy with the policy of supervision inaugurated by
the 
Indian Office. 
I found a lack of uniformity in grading, practical methods -and systematic
pro- 
motions and transfers in reservation schools. Some contract schools were
not 
properly eq uipped and were not able to comply with the terms of their contract
with the Government. I found some employes who had crept into the service
who were not holding their positions because of efficiency of service, nor
by the 
approval of superintendents; but from the nature of circumstances their in-
competency had not been brought to the attention of the Indian Office. 
I have endeavored to bring about a uniformity of grading, and we now have
a system of promotion and transfer that will add very materially to the efficiency
of all the schools. The work of employes has been inspected with a view to
securing the very best service; often errors have been corrected, and by
a few 
timely suggestions employds who otherwise were not doing good work have been
assisted to a better comprehension of the service desired, and are now doing
ac- 
ceptable work. No mere inspection could bring about these results. 
I mention these facts because the duties of supervisors do not seem to be
well 
understood in some quarters. 
EDUCATIONAL CONVENTION. 
That a more perfect uniformity of methods might be established, harmony of
effort among the schools be secured, and that opportunity might be given
for the 
discussion of the numerous important questions which arise in the operation
of Indian educational institutions, the honorable Commissioner of in ian
Af- 
fairs granted authority to hold an educational convention at Arkansas City,
Kans., Decrmber 29'and 30, which was welattended and much good accomplished
for the Indian school service.. I have noticed the excellent effects of.
that con- 
vention in the work of all the schools throughout thd district.