Polynesian., 1852-06-05
REPORT
OF THE COMMITTEE on EDUCATION.


The Committee on Education, to whom was re-
ferred the Annual Report of the Minister of Pub
lie Instruction, have given much time and atten-
ton to its consideration, and beg leave to submit
to the House the following Report thereon.
The existing system of Government Schools,
though confessedly imperfect in many respects, in
its operation is yet, in the opinion of the Commit
tee better adapted than any other, to the circum-
stance of the people, and the present means of
the government. The progress OF the schools, Is
on the whole, encouraging. 1t is however, unrea-
sonabe to expect, that the education of the masses
can be promoted, or the efficiency of the present
system to any great degree increased, until the
government can afford to build more suitable
School Houses, publish greater variety OF School
Books, educate teachers more thoroughly fOs their
profession, and pay them better for their services.
Under the present state Of the National Finances
the committee are not prepared tc recommend
for the present year any increase OF the appropri
alton fixed by law for the support of the Hawaiian
Public Schools.
The observations of the Minister in regard to
the Importance of establishing schools for the edu-
cation of Hawaiian Youth in the English language.
are worthy of the most serious attention of the
Legislature. Your committee fully agree with the
Minister in his estimate of the value and even ne
cessity, of some provision for this purpose. His
reasons for urging this measure are too obvious
recommend that provision should be made at once
for the establishment of at least one school on
each island for the instruction of native children in
the English language. The general desire mani
tested by the native Hawaans, that their children
should learn English, leads this Committee to be-
lieve that portion, perhaps half the necessary
expense of these schools, would be cheertully
borne by the parents OF the pupils.
The Royal school, founded by His Majesty, Is
,,au- u,oct AourishipO condition. and reflects
great credit on its founder and the nation
The school house erected by government is an
ornament to the town, and well adapted to its OBJ
iects. Your Committee recommend that the ap-
propriation of Two Thousand Dollars asked for by
the Minister, be granted for the purpose of encos
inc the school house with substantial fence, and
for the purchase of school apparatus and appropr-
ate desks and seats. The Report of the commit
tee appointed by the Minister to examine this
school, will be found in the appendix to this Re-
port, marked A.
The Importance of this school to the rising gen.
Grafton, cannot be too highly estimated, and its
present full numbers and fourishing condition is
good evidence that its value is appreciated by the
community and that will not be suffered TO Ian
| guish for want of support
The Seminary at Lahainaluna pears to be In
a prosperous condition. Should the proposed plan
of charging the pupils sixty dollars each per annum
for tuition prove successful it will relieve the gov
ernment of much of the present expense. AS
| however the experiment is as yet doubtful one,
it will be necessary to make the appropriation as
usual for Its support.
/ Your Committee on entering upon their official
duties determined to investigate, as thoroughly as
in their power, all complaints which had been
made during the past year by persons of the ROM
an Catholic faith, whether native or foreign,
against the Minister of Public Instruction, the
school Inspectors and other school officers, Of par
| tiality or Injustice These complaints in regard
to the school system and school officers, had been
loudly made, and an impression prevailed among
many In the community that they were well found
| ed and of serious nature. The attempt had also
| been made to resolve these difficulties into ma
tional question between this government and that
OF France, though they matters purely affect
| ing the internal regulation of the kingdom with
which no Foreign power whatever has any right to
interfere Your committee desirouS that the truth
should be ascertained, and made public, and any
abuses that might be found to exist. be remedied
as far as could be done by legislation, have devot
ed much time and attention to the examination Of
these difficulties Though the details of their in
yestipation and its results may seem insignihc Mt,
compared with Tie time and labor bestowed upon
if. vour committee think best to report full ac-
count of their labors, that those who have given
credence TO these reports, may know the FACTS and
on how frail foundation these complaints and So
called sFrench questions" really rest
The committee first examined the Minister OF
Public Instruction. putting among others the ques-
tions. which tine Chairman the committe on For
eign Relations wished to ask, but in which he w was
overruled by the rest OF the commHtee. line
questions and his replies will be found in the sP-
peudix marked B.
The Minister gives as his reason for oblectng
to answer the questions above mentioned, that ne
did not consider that they had any connection with
our Foreign Relations, but concerned only our IN
ternal affairs. That this government had ever de-
MED the right of any Foreign Power to exercise
he couId not answer such questions to that COM
mittee without seeming to acknowledge that night
He says he has never appointed Catholic priests as
School Treasurers and gives his reasons, taeie
sound and sufficient.
He says that in but one instance has any com
plant been made to him BY Cathoncs against
Protestant missionary as school Treasurer, which
Complaint was not of his official conduct but only
of his being Protestant missionary ihst mel