The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-12-01

There Is much sound sense In the above rciuark
Experience has repeatedly shown in the history
of missionary enterprise, that the use OF a strange
language by the people, is a great obstacle to the
success of the teacher: and few better illustrations
of this fact may be found than that which the
Hawaiian nation affords. 1t ought, however, to
be stated in any discussion of this question, that
the use of the English tongue by the missionaries
in teaching the Aawaiians, was prohibited by a
stringent rule Of the American Board, in whose
employ they were, which rule forbids the use OF
any other language in it's schools than the YER
nacular. Whatever censure some may be dispos-
ed to attachto the non-introduction of the En-
glish language in the earlier stages of the efforts
to civilize this people, must fall, not on the teach
ers employed by the Board, but on that society
itself. The labor of the missionaries, however,
has not been thrown away. On the contrary,
they have done much to raise the natives in the
scale of humanity. They have clothed them, and
taught them to worship the true God. They
have learned them to read and write, and in con-
~nection with Others, have instructed many in the
exercise of useful trades. Their influence has
materially contributed to raise the standard OF
civilization; but they have never yet succeeded IN
making the natives a race of working. and think
ing men. They continue, as a race, when placed
beside the white man, mere children in all that
regards intellectual capacity. Many individual
cases show that the native Hawaiian, under favor
able circumstances. is capable of attaining high
intellectual position and the diffusion of the
English language among the natives, would prob
ably tend more than any other thing to make
such cases the rule rather than the exception.
The secular books i'm the Hawaiian language are
necessarily few, and comprise only the rudiments
of learning; and so long as the Hawaiian language
exclusively prevails, the people are shut out from
those broad fields of acknowledge which the English
tongue affords. Their reading amounts to little
or nothing because they have little or nothing to
read. Those English works which would be most
attractive to their minds are sealed books to them.
The little knowledge which they do get is mostly
derived from a common source, and has to be
drilled into them, as it would he drilled into a
class of school-boys in the States. Their ignorance
of the English language has debarred them from
learning to think for themselves. Ability to think
is of even more advantage to a man than actual
knowledge; and in no way can it be so well con-
ferred upon the natives as by teaching them the
English language and thus showing them how
others think.
There are several good English schools upon
the islands, and foremost among them stands the
Honolulu Royal School. But they are very few
in proportion to the population, and do not begin
to supply the want. The smaller English schools
which in past years have been scattered through
out the islands, have in many cases languished
and died out for want of proper support. A cor
respondent suggested, in a letter fUblished some
months since that the government shouldtake these
English schools under its own protection, and
authorize the Board OF Education to support them
out of the school fund. instead of contributing as
heretofore, but a moiety of the sum required for
their maintenance, an amount only equal to that
contributed by the parents of the children. Such
a measure would be a great step for the welfare
of the people, inasmuch as it would establish
English schools upon a permanent basis, through
out the group, and impart to a large portion of
the rising generation. a knowledge of the English
language. Until some such plan is adopted it is
in vain to expect that such schools will thrive.
The natives generally express a willingness to as
sist the school, and are profuse in their promises
for its support; but they are poor. 8 They have
not the money. Ten dollars n year is a heavier
drain than they can withstand. In many cases
it is more than the whole sum which passes
through their hands during that period. 1t is
in vain, then, to expect that the native will in or
binary cases, contribute the required amount to-
wards the support of qualified teachers. Hereto
fore the government seems to have ignored the
superior usefulness of English schools, and placed
them on a footing so far bel Observation-Disclosures,
that there is no chance for them to live. They
should at least be placed upon an equal basis
and the Board of Education should be authorized
to establish them at their own discretion through
Ouf tho ;clop6c ap1 INV fr fI,ap, o,+ 81 <Io oou~
mon school fund, without relying for their sup
port upon the precarious subscriptions of natives.
Until the initiation of the new code, English
schools were not even placed under the supervision
of the Board of Education; and now that they are
received into their charge, we are glad to know
that the Board are disposed to do all in their
power, restricted and hampered as it is, to pro-
mote them. Let the next Legislature do a service
to the country by seconding their efforts.
There is another department of education
which is now becoming a matter of especial con-
sideration, and to encourage which a public meet
ing was last week held. 1t is the education of
Ha,caiian girls. Everybody knows that the
standard of civilization and refinement in a ma
ton depends in a great measure upon the educa-
ton of the women. When they are taught the
refnements Of civilized life, and know how to make q
home what q home ought to be, q great step is ac-
complished towards the elevation Of the men; and
when. on the contrary, they are debased to so low q
position as they have occupied in the Hawaiian ma
ton, their influence is a fatal drawback to the up
ward progress of the race. Educate the women and
the men will rise with them. Undue them with the
Of civilized life, and the men will advance
with them a step higher toward the true standard of
humanity. Experience has shown that the women can
be educated. The female school which formerly ex-
isted at Wailuku, Maui, imbued many native girls
thoughts and habits which have made them the
native wives and mothers to be found upon the
islands; and which have gained for the women Of
Lahaina district, as q class, q reputation for virtue