The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-04-26
lcoHspoa4eaee Of the Pacific Commercial A4ver.i,.r)
ON Mani.

L.nArvA, april 16. 1860.
MR. EDrToR 1t should give satisfaction 10 the
friends Of education that the subject Of our public
schools Is receiving an earnest discussion IN the news
papers, which arises from the public interest in them,
and must serve 10 stimulate it.
Some facts rs to what IS doing for schools upon
Maui may be Of interest at this time. For several
years n number Of schools have been maintained uu-
der competent foreign teachers for the purpose Of
teaching the English language TO natives. With
much labor and expense, a little has been accom-
plished. All who have taught such schools. or have
often visited them, know with what extreme d .ffculty
a Hawaiian acquires a foreign language from books.
\ fair talent for learning languages IS rarely possessed
by any member Of a rude uncultivated race Hence
there has been little fruit matured by these schools,
so far as the attainment IF an available knowledge Of
English Is concerned. The expectation of diffusing a
general and useful knowledge Of English among the
native population of the living generation, by any
amount Of means thar could be supplied, will only re-
suit in disappointment in any who are 50 visionary as
to entertain it. 1t is simply an impossibility; and
those who are urging tais a the leading aim Of schools
for natives, show n total ignorance Of the subject.
Yet these schools are, to "A certain extent, useful,
and indispensable. In the larger towns, where many
of the pupils have been employed in white families,
or have otherwise had frequent opportunities Of inter
course with foreigners, they have made more pro-
gress, as they acquire English orally with tolerahle
readiness. Thus after several years, a few of the
pupils Of the English school in L1haina can use orli-
nary c~O!lOquial phrases, and would understand a
book writtenin simple language iorchiidren, although
a common newspaper paragraph would be Greek"
to them. While il IS evident that the English Ian
guage can never by any possibility become a medium
Of general information to one in ten, perhaps not to
one in fifty, Of the pupils of this class of schools, yet
the c~olloquial use attained will promote the diffusion
OF "A better knowledge Of it among the next genera
ton of pupils. And the few talented individuals vino
acquire the language to a useful degree Will have
their opportunities Of gaining knowledge INNER sely
extended thereby.
The school in Lahaina has during the past year
been put upon an enlarged and improved basis. which
meets the general needs of education far better than
anything before existing. \ large build ing ha- been
fttcI up, in which $50 scholars receive instruction in
ali the common branches. and wholly with English
text books. Thus it resembles the Royal School Of
Honolulu. The principal is Mr.. d D. Baldwin, who
is aided by three or four suboriinates. Such a school
in full operation affords gratifying evidence that the
Board Of Education have no, been idle.
IL - understood that a school Of similar character
is likely soon to be- established under an experienced
teacher on East Ma i. Two such schools Oh the ISL
and will lend a powerful stimulus TO education. and
viii raise the STANDARD Of all the public schools.
la The department most suffering, that of special
female trimming. IA prosperous beginning has been
made on u small scale by Mrs. Bishop AT Lahaina,
who has in her family eleven little girls. 1t is hoped
that the work 30 happily begun may have permanent
provision made for its continuance.
The writer would only add his earnest conviction
tina, the most efectual way OF teaching natives Eng
lish, As well as the only possible way of Immediately
civiIizing them, Is by means Of these family boarding
schools for their young female children. The rea-
Sons for this belief would occupy too much space for
the present communication. 5.