Page:LewisMeriam-TheProblemOfIndianAdministration.djvu/192

it is pointed out that the long full day does not give the children opportunity for individual effort in things of particular personal interest or experience in the use and direction of leisure time, and in some instances is detrimental to health. The point to be brought out here is that the long day makes great demands on the employees, leaving them little time for their own recreation. Several teachers miss particularly the opportunity for reading and studying which is at once recreation and the means of improving their work. The fact is, of course, appreciated that in Indian boarding schools the teachers cannot possibly have the opportunity for study and recreation that is enjoyed by public school teachers, both in city and rural systems, yet the question must be raised as to whether by careful consideration the existing conditions could not be materially improved.

Vacations. Special emphasis should be placed on the importance of seeing that all field employees have full, unrestricted opportunity to take their annual leave and to get away from their stations, particularly when their posts are isolated, At times, of course, the observance of this principle will improve embarrassing and the valuable conscientious employee will stick by the ship unless provision is made for him to go and he is urged to do so. Deliberate plans for leave should be made and a schedule worked out. If. the plan of having the employees own their own cars^[1] and paying them mileage for their use on official business could be worked out, it would materially help many employees and their families to have the means of getting a real vacation. Many of the employees who already own personal cars have bought them primarily because they make possible real vacations in the western country, an ideal place for trips if one has a car.

Conferences of Employees. Mention should again be made of the desirability of more conferences of employees. Gatherings of the employees of a given class from all the jurisdictions within a reasonable radius would combine rest and recreation with development and renewed interest in the work. In some years it would doubtless prove helpful to have all the Indian teachers come together for a special summer institute at one of the larger boarding