The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-06-25
TTE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THURSDAY, JUNE rs.


THERE is no subject Of greater interest to every
citizen who desires the prosperity of the State
than that Of popular education; and especially is
it so to those who have never had the advan-
tages of a common school or academic education,
but have drawn their knowledge from tho sparks
Of the anvil or from the burrows of the plow, and
perhaps only after tie stamp of manhood has
been fixed on their foreheads. These know from
experience the value of the gift which the State
may provide for its children, and these will ever
guard jealousy whatever privileges may be con-
coded to the rising generation.
Thanks to the liberality of a generous Amer
lean public, to the long and patient labors of
American Missionaries, and to the judicious aid
and cooperation Of the chiefs of this group, a
system of popular education for the native race
has been introduced and maintained in our king
dom, to whose benefits every native is entitled, no
matter how poor he may be. If advantage is not
taken of the free education offered by the State
to every native, there is no excuse but his own
Indifference.
I'VE are far from maintaining that all has been
NdOne which can be towards establishing a thor
ough system of education for the native race.
There is much wanting, especially in the educa-
ton Of native females. But of this we shall
speak in a future number. We wish more es-
pecially now to call public attention to the un-
fortunate condition of schools il Honolulu and
the want of a good school here for boys. We say
it with shame that there is not now existing here
any school for foreign lads over ten years of age,
and this want is becoming SO seriously felt that
some remedy must be sought for it.
The history of our Honolulu schools, for the
past few years is a very curious ono, and if truth
fully told would show that the foreign commur .ty
here ase most remark9ll ~ patien5. A few years
since we had a great flourish of trumpets Oh the
completion Of the building known as the Royal
School. An excellent schoolnaster, Mr.. z. C..
Beckwith, was invited to preside over it, and the
school went on we'll for two or three years, and
was apparently all that could be desired-a good
select school, where tl3 ttE- academic education
was furnished ft3 I'll classes of our foreign chill
dren. Our yvtpg nien and young women of all
ages could there assemble and receive the best OF
training. 1t was just the school which had long
been needed for Honolulu. Besides this there
was the Punahou School, under the charge Of
Rev. D. Dole, but its ~erclusiue character debarred
all applicants from its privileges, unless they were
SO after the most ~straitest Sect" connected with
the mission. It is true that soon after this the
~ercluSiUe character of this school was somewha1
broken up, but it did not become a school for the
children of foreign residents in Honolulu. There
vas also the charity town school and private
schools for mall children, all conducted with
more or less ability. These schools continued
with satisfaction till about the spring of 1855
and the wants of our growing foreign community
----- l. -G
Suddenly, we find a change taking place; thu
town, the people and their wants have advanced
a half century. Some magi announce to us tina
we need and must have a college, and 10! in thu
hay future we see the classic walls of an Aladdin
University rising to meet the demand. No soone
is the scheme announced than a strange restless
ness takes possession of the guardians of ou
schools, and che march of progress, aye, enter
prise, if you please, o~verturns the well-adapte
programme of the Royal School, leaves It's de
serted rooms to a long s" vacation, - and banishe
from Punahou a tried teacher whose years c
patient toll demanded at least a decent respect
, These sacrifices made. it was coolly announce
that we had a college, where the highest eduea
: ton could be given. The Royal School was close
for a time, and Mr.. Dole, who for years had ha
the charge Of the Punahou School, and who's