76 ALASKA FISHEKIEri AND FU1\ IXDUSTKIES IX 1917. 



are too difficult for niosl of the children to read, but the pictures have been enjoyed 

 and have led to many inquiries. Both the books and magazines have been loaned 

 to voung people out of school, who have read them eagerly. 



At Cliristmas time a public entertainment was given by the two schools, in which 

 every child took part. All the parents were invited, and a large number attended 

 and seemed interested in the way the children took their parts. 



.During March, April, and May all the older girls had a sewing lesson once a week. 

 Almost all the native women crochet very well, but only a few of them sew well. 

 Crocheted doilies and lace are found in every house, but buttonholes are seldom 

 made (safety pins are substituted), and a torn garment never is mended. The sewing 

 has been taught with the hope that a practical use may be made of it. It is recom- 

 mended that material be furnished the school, and that not only sewing, but also 

 knitting and darning lessons, be a part of the regular course' for all the girls. 

 Sometimes children who are slightly deficient mentally can do creditable work with 

 the hands. 



The older pupils have been excused from school several times during the school 

 sessions to engage in various kinds of work on the island. During the latter part of 

 the school year they did efficient work in gathering refuse and in general cleaning 

 around the "buildings of the village. 



The reports which have come from the boys at Chemawa are good. These boys 

 seem to be doing satisfactory work and to be contented. In regard to industrial 

 work, it is suggested that more of the boys who go to Chemawa ta,ke up various branches 

 of elementary mechanical work, such as blacksmithing, plumbing, and care of simple 

 gasoline motors, etc., a line of work much needed on these island.^*. 



In commenting on this report the Bureau approves the recom- 

 mendation that instruction in needlework and knitting be made a 

 part of the regular curriculum for the. girls. Arrangements have 

 been made to provide necessary materials. 



St. George Island. — A senior and a junior school are maintained on 

 this island. The senior school includes in general all the children 

 between the ages of 6 and 16 yeais of age. Ihe junior school is con- 

 ducted principally for preparing the younger children, those under 

 the regular school age of 6 years, for entrance into the larger school. 



The senior school for the session of 1916-17 opened September 5, 

 1916, and closed April 27, 1917. Thirty-three pupils were m attend- 

 ance, 15 l3oys and 18 girls. In giving mstruction object lessons and 

 concrete examples were used w^herev er practicable. In language work 

 emphasis was placed upon the use ol English, which, strange as it 

 may seem, is not the habitual language of the children, although 

 schools have been maintained at the Pribilofs under the supervision 

 of the Government for nearly 50 years. Some of the older pupils are 

 beginning to read the simpler stories m magazines. In aritlmietic 

 stress is placed upon practical problems. Attention was given to 

 writing, geography, history, and spelling. 



One of the classes studied a number of chapters of "Good Health," 

 by Frances Gulick Jewett. This book is written in a form suitable 

 for Pribilof children. An epidemic of chicken pox, which occurred 

 on St. George Island in the year, was utilized to advantage m the way 

 of furnishing subject matter for instruction in health problems, arid 

 the teacher's knowledge of bacteriology was also of use to him in 

 imparting elementary inform. a tion. Efforts were made to improve 

 the moral and physical condition of the pupils, and physical-culture 

 drills were given each morning. 



The junior school was opened on October 1, 1916, and closed Mav 

 31, 1917. Nine children were in attendance. The report of the work 

 in this school, submitted by the teacher in charge of it, indicated that 

 considerable ingenuity had been exercised in devising methods for 

 interesting the small children. 



