The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-06-16

In another column will be found a communi-
cation on this subject. 1t is a singular fact that.
notwithstanding there are forty to fifty thousand
dollars annually expended by our Public School
Department for education, there is not a school
or seminary in the kingdom, at least that we are
aware of, where native girls can obtain an edu-
cation other than the most elementary branches
taught in our public schools. The female semi
nary at Wailuku, on Maui, formerly afforded all
the advantages required by the natives. Its dis
continuance was, no doubt, an unwise measure,
which has deprived thcih of present school adj
vantages, and left the nation. SO far as its females
are concerned, where il was twenty-five years
ago.
We have seminaries for young men at Hilo. ut
Lahaina, and here on Oahu, each conducted by
efficient teachers with more or less ability, where
male Hawaiians can obtain the highest education
which they are capable of acquiring. But to
educate our native females, and qualify them TO
become consorts to the graduates of our seminal
ries there is no institution. The former are there
fore left to pick up, for wives, women with little
or no education, and who have never had that
moral and family training which is necessary to
fit them for the position they might be called 70
occupy.
This evil is becoming every year more felt and
seen by those who are interested in the progress
of the rising generation of Hawaiians but how
to supply the want, and devise ways and means
to remedy the evil. is the great question. In a
matter of SO great Importance, it seems to us that
the Government ought to do something for the
education of its females. by appropriating for
this specific object a portion of the school revenue.
1t would not be necessary for it to support such a
school but simply to furnish buildings and provide
for a time for the salaries of the teachers. All other
expenses would be borne by the parents of the
females who might be educated. These parents
feel the want, and the more able of them say
they are willing to do all in their power to sus-
tain their daughters in a boarding-school.
1t has besG suggested that the lilo boarding
school could be changed to a female Seminary,
perhaps more readily, and with less expense,
than any other plan that could be devised.
The seminary, whenever started, should only be
commenced in some retired place, such as Wal
luku on Maui, Waialua on Oahu, or Hilo. The
latter place, on some accounts, is admirably
adapted to such an institution, and we cannot
but hope that an arrangement may yet be made
to start one there.
"A plan mas also Deen proposed TO start q native
female bo~arding-school near Honolulu. Much
as such an institution is needed, it would be a
great mistake to locate it in or near the metrop-
oils, amid the proverbially-numerous temptations
of this seaport. Such a school should be located
in some retired village, away from the corrupting
influences which would be here encountered, and
which will surely defeat the objects contemplate
ed. Waialua, on the other hand, which has also
been named, offers all the advantages which seem
to be desirable for the permanent location of such
an institution.
We trust that some steps will Immediately be
taken in the matter. The Board of Education is
the proper body to act. If means can be had
teachers are, no doubt, obtainable. There are,
without question, from twenty to forty females
from ten to twelve years of age, on this island
alone, whose parents would gladly enter them as
scholars at once, and literally support them. If
such be the case, delay will only be attended with
adverse results.
Since the above was put into type, a notice Of
a boarding school, under the charge of Miss Og-i
den, has been handed in, and will be found in our
advertising columns.