The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-06-17
The ROYAL School.

To one who has but an incidental business in
tercourse with the Hawaiians, who finds them re-
Ginning in the shadows at every street corner, and
sees associated with their metropolitan LIFE,
what there is degrading in Incidence, indecency
and vice, to such an one it is gratifying to wit
ness the development of their higher capacities
under the influences of d~icipline, instruction and
emulation. The habits of the natives show their
civilization to be recent, and the alacrity with
which they return to their former degrading
amusements. when freed from restraint, shows the
strength of those Unborn downward tendencies
with which religion and education have to con-
tend. But when we enter the school-room and
witness the exhibition of those qualities of intel
lect, the development of which adorns and elevates
our race when we see them mastering sciences.
with manifestations of mental powers as acute.
vigorous and susceptible of cultiva ton as those of
the so-called superior race under more favorable
auspices, we enjoy a cheering evidence of their
capacity for elevation, acquire a confidence in
education as an instrumentality, and cannot but
approve of the policy of the government in its
best endeavors to promote it.
1t was our good fortune to be present during the
examination of the Royal School on Thursday last.
In the opening exercise the pupils displayed a ia
uiiildTIJ WIFI Nv tic oi IT'S Although the Op1n-
ions of men may possibly differ in regard to the i'm
portance of religious instruction in the common
schools, they can hardly differ in regard to the infu-
ence exerted upon the character by the frequent con-
temptation Of patterns of exalted excellence.
The distinct articulation that characterized the
reading Of some of the pupils shows what can be ac-
complished by good instruction, patient drilling, and
careful attention to the analysis of English sounds.
The more advanced Of the scholars analysed the Eng
lish language with facility, evincing an accurate
knowledge of its principles and construction. The
several classes in geography, one of which was under
the charge of the ~lady-like Miss Brickwood, passed .
good examination; and their blackboard drawings at
tracted much attention.
But the most surprising and gratifying proficiency
was manifested by q class in mental arithmetic.
Written problems were submitted to them by q Wis.,
itor, believed to be as difficult as any in Sc Colburn's
Arithmetic and although some of them required a
protracted calculating process, they were solved without
hesitation in almost every case. The examination on
the whole was a very creditable one; and by showing
that the knowledge of the various studies pursued was
not superficial, proved the ability and industry of the
scholars. and the faithfulness of the teachers.
At the conclusion of the examination, appropriate
remarks were made by the President of the Board Of
Education and the President of Oahu College. The
latter gentleman expressed his confidence in the quail
ifcations of a part of the school to enter the prepar-
atory course at Punahou. We believe it is their in
tenton to do so; and if they carry with them their
present habits of punctuality and application, there
can be no doubt of their ability to take a thorough
collegiate course; while the advantages that will ac-
crue to the nation from a class of highly educated
Hawaiians will be incalculable.
At the exhibition in the evening. the school-house
was crowded to overlooking, and the exercises on the
whole were very creditable. 1t was but natural that
the occasion and the company should cause a degree
of h~esitancy and an occasional mistake on the part of
the pupils. The singing was very good-in fact.
better timed and tuned than any Hawaiian choir we
ever recollect to have heard. The declamations were
given with spirit, and one or two of them were pro-
nounced with good emphasis.