Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1859-11-05
TO TIE EDITOR OF THE poIrSEsrAs.

Sm:-In this out-of-the way part of the kingdom,
the post in tho many instances resembles the educa-
tional system of the islands-we pay a good price
for it in the way of taxes, but unable to appreci
ate its beauties. So it is but now that have got
hold of copy of the Commercial Advertiser of Sept.
IA, in which some over the signature of "Maui'
(but who, am inclined to think, lives nearer the
Honolulu House, and has had a most excellent
" opportunity to know about" the Department Of
Public Instruction. questions both my facts and
reasonings." 1 am gratifed to find that my chance
shot has told in the right quarter and awakened a
response. am also pleased to find that my author
ity-which stated in my last was an extensive in
quiry among the natives-was wrong in asserting
that there was no English schools on this island.
As to the little summer excursion to Hio end
Kau" which Maui talks so fippantly about, I'd
rather be excused in the present state of the roads,
which 1 should judge his opportunity of knowing
about the schools in those parts had left him in
ignorance Of But 1 am especially gratifed to have
the assurance from so apparently authoritative a
source that new leaf has been or is about to be
turned over. hope soon to see the whole matter
explained in the native newspaper-the organ OF the
BOard-fuy and clearly, and also by the officers of
the Board personally, so that the people who are
able and anxious to "kokua,'' may know how to
get their children into an English school which has
some guarantee of permanency, and that " the best
eudeavors of the Board will be made " to impress
upon the minds of native parents and guardians the
importance of knowledge of the English language
to their children
Maui - attempts to excuse the former neglect of
English schools by the Board by bringing in the
law a side wind. which, he says, did not, except
to a very limited extent commit such schools to its
care. True there was a lack of foresight in the
strict wording of the law, in this respect, which is
fully supplied in the code but, it may particu
larly be asked, did the old law require the Board,
through the publication of newspapers and other
wise to throw its entire influence in favor of any
one particular form of the Christian relgion' That
it has done so, formerly, either directly or through
its agents. has been the repeated complaint of the
Catholics. will remark, en- pGssGnt that had the
Catholic priests had the advantages which have been
enjoyed by the PrOtestants, the French language
would to-day have been freely spoken throughout
the group. This neglect of their opportunity has
been the grand error of the former missionaries and
one which they slow to acknowledge, glaring as
it is was told the other day by respectable Ha-
waiian (native authority again) that English
school not thousand miles distant from Maui {"
was likely to decline, because their pastor had in
formed his people that he had been warned by his
superiors (who they were don't know that he must
cease paying attention to the English school for
tives. This, if true, shows degree of bgotry ex-
isting Somewhere that did not expect to meet With
in the year Of grace, ffty-nine. Was far from
right in clubbing the present "system of mastery
inactivity? %
But we are promised better things in the future
'' Credula amor est"-and I am content to
watch and wait HAWAII