Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1852-05-01
REPORT

REPORT
Ofthe Minister of Public Instruction read
before the King and Ha,caiian Legislatur
l4th .aprii, 1852.
To THE MOBILES AND REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS IN LEGIsLA-
TIVE Council ASSEMBLED.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
In presenting this, my annual report, / beg
leave to lay before the Legislature, first, the
condition OF the public schools. In these
the population of the Islands are more direct
ly interested than in any other class Of
schools, and upon their prosperity depends
the education and consequently the ciyiliza-
ton of the masses.
In statistical table appended to the re-
port, will be found a summary view of the
public schools for the year 1851 inclusive /;
and | wish to observe that these statistics
come down no farther than to the close of
the year, the returns for the first quarter OF
the present year not having been received.
The table referred to shows the following
results;
The whole number Of public free schools
taught by natives in the Hawaiian language
and literature in 1851, was 535
The whole number of scholars in these
schools during the same year was, l5,4S2-
The number Of Protestant schools was All
The number of scholars in Protestant
schools was 1876
The number Of Catholic schools was I04
The number of scholars in Catholic schools
was 2,506
The number of readers in the public
schools was S,O7G
The number of writer's 5,220
The number in arithmetic 1927
The total receipts from school taxes in 1851
was S27, 1c2 VI
The total expenditure of the same on the
public schools was 1 25,27lOc
Balance on hand, Dec. 2lst, 1851 2,5ll.So-
Nv quarterly accounts of the same are
herewith submitted, marked A.
The essential features Of our public school
system have remained the same during the
last FIVE years nevertheless il has been SO
modified from time to time. that l deem II
important here to present bret and gene
raj outline of it, as it now stands, that the
Legislature may be the better able to Judge,
whether any further notifications are requir-
ed or not The importance of the subject
certainly demands for it, the most profound
consideration.
GENERAL OUTLINE OF OUR PUBLIC school
SYSTEM.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
The Hawaiian Islands are divided by law
into TWENTY-FIVE school districts, viz. Hawaii
into 8. Maui with the adjacent islands o
Molokai and Lanai into 6, Oahu into D, and
Kauai, with Niihau, into6-
POSITION OF THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC IN
sTRUCTIoN.
Ry the statutes of the kingdom, the gene
raj superyision of the public morals, OF the
parental and filial duties, and Of the public
and select schools supported by government
in these TWENTY-FIVE districts, are. committed
to the charge Of the. Minister of Public In
struction. He Is required to recommend tt
His Majesty in Council, suitable Persor
for appointment as school Inspector or super
intendent of each district, instruct them, iron
time to time, with the appreciation OF the
King in council, in regard to their duties, re-
eeiye their reports, and account to the King
Minister of Finance quarterly, for the " DIS,
bursement of taxes and assessments devoted
to the support Of education throughout the
kingdom :" to prepare suitable bye-laws fol
the internal regulation and conduct OF the GO
vernment schools, and define the obligations
mutually imposed by law, upon parents
adopters, and guardians, and upon children
and wards TO make tours. from time to time
Of the respective islands. to inquire into the
condition of the public schools, examine the
sane, and correct any abuses that may exist
SCHOOL INSPECTORS OF DISTRICTS.
On the nomination of the Minister OF Pub
lie Instruction, a school Inspector is appoint
ed over each district, by the King in council
With salary not exceeding forty dollars
year, to be paid out of the school tax OF the
district. The laws require only that ne De
man of tsgood morals. This ofilcer mas
the supervision of the public schools IN MS
district, is the trustee Of all the school pro-
perty therein, is authorized, with the aPPro-
baton Of the Minister, to arrange the small
sr divisions for school purposes, as conve,
aence may require. and report the state o.
'0e schools. together with the amount OF nis
receipts and expenditures. quarterly or an
oually to the head of the department
II is the duty OF the inspector also, IN con-
cert with the local trustees Of each school,
license teachers after due examination
1sgulaie their pay. and dismiss them from
on'ce tor suitable cause I; also TO erect ano