Report discussing the Day School at Indian Cove. Details on attendance and overall success of school are outlined.
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NOVA SCOTIA.
Although the province of Nova Scotia has been settled and cultivated for very many years, the condition of the Indians in many districts is that of nomads. They have failed after all the years of their association with white people to reside permanently upon their reserves and make their living by agriculture. They are prone to waner about from place to place, selling their baskets or squatting in the vicinity of towns and doing odd jobs for the residents. These habits render it somewhat difficult to give all their children the benefits of day school education, but on several of the reserves successful day schools have been established, and the new methods adopted to increase the attendance and render it stable have had gratifying results at several of the schools. These methods will be further extended as time goes on, and where active and interested teachers are in control there is no doubt that many of the difficulties which now appear unsurmountable may be overcome. The actual poverty of the Indians is also a detrimental factor. The children are often without proper clothing to protect them from the inclemency of the winter weather, and in the future in deserving cases a quantity of clothing will be given sufficient to enable the children to attend school regularly. INDIAN COVE, PICTOU COUNTY.
The Indian Cove school is at present conducted by Miss Gertrude McGirr. This band is quite civilized and a number of the older people on the reserve are able to
ESKASONI, CAPE BRETON COUNTY.
...
Number of children of school age
21
Number of pupils enrolled
20
Average attendance
8
Number of pupils enrolled
29
Number of pupils enrolled
29
Average attendance
17
read and write. The cause of education is advancing, but the circumstances which operate against a regular attendance also obtain on this reserve. The school-house on the reserve is used for divine worship on Sundays, and there is every reason to believe that the influence of the school is for good.
Note
Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended March 31 1910 (Ottawa: C.H. Parmelee, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, 1910), 276-277