Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1853-11-19
4ULU, SATURDAY,s NOVEMBER 49,

in Council, whose duty it was to receive and dis
burse the school tax, appoint and remove teachers,
superintend the schools, and report regularly and
fully to the Minister of Public Instruction. By
this act the democratic feature of school commit
ltees elected by the parents struck out OF the
system, and apparently too much power placed in
the hands of the inspectors. The same act also
burdened the department of education with the
care OF church lands, and of several other things,
which, In the judgment Of many savored too much
OF " union of church and state"
| Still the reports of the department show that
much was gained at once. The estimates of Mr..
Richards, its first head, In 1916, (made however,
from very imperfect data,) gave about $4,000 pu-
pills In the schools, an annual expense of about
S3O,OO0, and debt of $1,000 hanging over the
department..
The first six months of the operation of the nes"
law Infused new energy into the schools through
out the kingdom. The labor tax, which, as nearly
as could be determined, had the previous year
yielded little over 500, 1000, now gave S4Q,o00.-
good part of the old debt was discharged, while
houses, teachers, and almost every thing connect
ed with the schools had been mucR improved
The plans of Mr.. Richards were cut short by his
last illness, which removed him from his Office in
July, 1917.
In June, Is4s, Mr. Armstrong accepted the office
OF Minister, after having for several months prevl-
ously, discharged ITS dulieSprovsionally.
Under his administration of the Department,
some important notifications seem TO have been
made in the system of 1876. A law OF 1850, be-
sides other minor provisions transferred the Semi
nary at Lahainaluna to the Hawailan Government;
substituted for the troublesome paahao tax tnomi-
naily $3.50 per annum) poll tax of 81, payable
in some districts in produce or merchandise at the
market value separated the office of School Treas
urer from that of School Inspector; and set apart
one twentieth oil the government lands to const'-
tute permanent school fund. The proceeds of
the portion of the last already sold, yield, we u-
derstand, an income of about $500. law OF
1851 restored the election of school trustees to the
parents, and another of 1852, removed all control
of church property from the Department of Public
Instruction.
We have been told that something has been
done also, by dint of constant writing and INSTRUCT
ing, and b, careful choice Of agents, to economlse
the expenditure of funds and TO procure reliable
returns from the schools. No one acquainted with
the general character of natives, will doubt that
abundance yet remains to be done in both these
last directions.
Tie school system, 50 far as its form is concern
ed at present seems to work WE'LL 10 be adapted to
the character of the people, and to stand the true
test of system, by tending constantly to iemedy
the defects in the materials which constituted H.
But though the schools do not stand IN need OF any
more system making at present, one acquainted
with their condition, and feeling that they are the
last hook to hang hope upon" for the existence
OF the natives either as nation or race, cannot
but feel that they do stand in need OF much OF
something 10 give them the efficiency which the
crisis requires. If have not been already alto
gether too tedious, will hereafter give you some
of the thoughts which the preceding review has
suggested. Yours, u