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

repair school houses, and issue drafts o.
the school treasurer or tax collector of IN
district, for the payment of teachers salaries
or sums due for the erection or repair O
school houses, TO the full amount of tn
school tax
This office has hitherto been filled by ma
tives exclusively. ~
| SCHOOL TRUSTEES
BY the Act of June l7.h, 1851, the parent
Immediately interested in each school, ar,
authorized to meet annually, and choose b,
ballot, two OF their own number, as trustees
whose duty it rs, to cooperate with the in
spector, IN the care of each particular school
This is the most republican feature in ou
school system. it places each school, in
measure, under the control of the parents in
terested. The act requires the sanction o
the trustees to the teachers license, in order
TO its validity, or TO his dismissal from Office
and, in case Of disagreement between the
inspector of the district and the local trustees
either party has the right Of appeal to the
King in council, through the Minister of the
Department A decision here is final. These
local trustees elected by the people, have the
immediate superintendent of the erection
and repairs, of school houses, and are requir-
ed to see that all children of a suitable age.
from to l4) attend school, Their only
compensation is exemption from the school
labor and chattel taxes.
TEACHERS
The teachers of public schools receive a
license from the Inspector of the district, with
the appreciation of the local trustees in each
case, after examination on the elementary
branches of reading, writing, arithmetic and
geography. Their number is determined by
the wants of the district. They are requir-
ed 10 exhibit evidence Of good moral charac-
ter, but no religious test is applied. BY way
of accommodation to the popular feeling, and
the state of the schools, previous to the ex-
istence Of distinct Department of instruc-
tion. the Government has allowed the schools
to have teachers, whose religious sympathies
are in common with those of the parents of
children placed under their instruction but
the law recognizes no distinction, gives the
schools no religious or denominational cha
racter, and assumes no control of the re-
ligious education of the young As mat
ter of fact, however, religious instruction
is impaired freely and without hindrance,
in all the public schools: in no country is it
more so, so long as the branches required
by law are not neglected
SCHOLARS.
All children, from the eges of four to four
teen, are required by law, to attend some
school, and the parents are at liberty to
choose to what school they will send their
children Blu. in order to constitute GO
vernment school, the number of scholars
must not be less than fifteen. Scholars are
subjected to reasonable correctional punish
meot for misconduct in school. The law re-
quires also that the parents or guardians fur
nish them with the books and stationery re-
quisite to pursue their studies; or in case of
delinquency in this respect, the Inspector of
the district is authorized to purchase them,
and double the amount is charged in the tax
bill of the parents, unless he is exempted on
account of extreme poverty or some other
sufficient cause.
EXAMINATIONS.
The inspectors are directed by circular to
examine the schools of their respective dis
tricts, at the close of each quarter or term
and to report the result to the Department.
In doing this, the custom has always been to
assemble several schools together in some
central place, for the double purpose of
greater despatch, and Of exciting deeper
interest in the minds of parents and scholars
in the schools: These examinations are OF
great importance to the cause of popular
education.
TEACHERS WAGES.
These are graduated by the intelligence,
aptness to teach, good moral character, and
perseverance of the individual, in each case,
and at stated periods, monthly or quarterly,
the teachers receive orders on the school
treasurer. or tax collector of the district, Tor
their pay. The inspector, with the consent
of the Trustees, determines the amount OF
wages in each case, within limit fixed by
the Privy Council.
HOW THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE SUPPORTED
A direct poll tax of So, is levied on all the
taxable male inhabitants of each district, Tor
the support Of the public schools of that dis
trict. This is their only support, except one
half of the net avails of land devoted TO edu-
cational purposes, which has, asyet amount
ed to very little. The schools are perfectly
free to all, and parents and guardians contrI-
butte nothing beyo ond the tax above mention-
ed, towards their support; provided the
school tax is sufficient to keep the schools
in operation, not less than 2oO days IN
the wear. in each district, but in case It does
not the tax collector and school inspector
of the district are authorized to impose an
addition tax to make up the deficiency to
that amount
TREAsURERs OF DISTRICTS.
The avails of the school tax are paid over
by the tax-collector, to special treasurers, Ia
the district (unless the tax collector himsen'
or school Inspector are authorized to ac, as
suchl appointed by the Minister OF Puoiic
instruction, and paid out by them, for teach
ers wages. or the erection of school houses
and other expenses. on the orders Ct 'ne in-
spectors. The amount of their duty IS, 10
receive and pay out to order. the school, TAX
in the district, and account for the same 20
the head of the department.
1,. Cd sn;t.hle nersons for school trea-