The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1865-05-20
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
SATURDAY, 4 20.

- II DeGL III s0Ic-N AlgA 'AAA-A
70 raise the superstructure Of good government.
Their happy example mas always been followed
by their descendants down to the present day
wherever they e~migrate, whether 70 the banks
IF the Ohio. the Sacramento or the Columbia
And wherever the Puritan element is found
making It's home in foreign lands, there too the
instincts Of the race are earliest and strongest
seen tending in the direction Of popular educa-
ton.
The system Of education established in New
England has been the admiration and often
the exemplar Of the civilized word. Several
Of the most enlightened nations Of Europe have
not disdained to send special commissioners 10
America for the purpose of learning and adopt
ing III their own countries, the excellencies
apparent in the American system.
But it has remained for the Hawaiian Min
istry in its wisdom, under the lead Of a British
training s~choolmaster TO take exception TO the
system, and aim 4 death blow at the whole
fabric as erected in this kingdom.
The subject of the education Of the masses,
was very naturally, q primary and leading idea
with those who, coming from Puritan ancestors,
planted the Christian faith on the then heather
shores of Hawaii. This primary work was
IS AHhSSoSSs " hHNJ iOuiN - SPONSh
by the people, to a written form, then to
prepare the necessary elemental books and then
patiently, perseveringly, in the face of great
difficulties, the work of educating the people
was began and carried on.
Ia the Iaids: Of the total darkness which
then overspread the nation, such u feeble rush
light us they could show, one might think
would be very long in penetrating the gloom,
but in a remarkably short period multitudes
of all classes and ages could read and write,
the PaLapala became the fashion and schools,
such as they were, spread all over the islands.
From the outset the multitudinous and severe
labOrs of the missionaries in preaching, trans
lating, ETC.. they could not give to the schools
the close degree of personal supervision they
no doubt desired, and SO it was resolved at n
general meeting in 1881, to establish 4 high
school. the design Of which was declared to
he to disseminate sound knowledge throughout
the islands, embracing general literature and
the sciences and whatever might tend 10 elevate
the whole mass of the people from the then
state of ignorance and degradation, and cause
them 10 become Il thinking, enlightened and
yirtuOus people. \ more definite object of the
high school was however declared 10 be 10
train up and qualify school teachers for their
respective duties; TO teach them theoretically
and practically the best method of. communicate
ing instruction to others together with a
knowledge Of the arts, usages and habits of
civilized life, with all their train Of social
blessings.
With such earnest care and upon such sound
principles were the common schools commenced
by New England men, while yet 4 Hawaiian
Government did not exist, and the chiefs lacked
the intelligence to appreciate the Importance Of
popular education. When at length the leaven
began to work and n government was organized,
able and willing to take charge Of the national
schools, the pioneers in the work of schooling
tie nation. having meantime become gray in
the work. readily and gladly relinquished the
.elf-imposed task and returned to their legiti-
mate occupation, having taught some 10000
of the population to read and write, and having
established a system of education which, con-
sidering the materials with which they worked,
has done wonders. Under the direction of the
government the education of the people has
gone on for years, having started on the basis
then laid, and to-day II may be said without
fear of contradiction that in no nation under
the sun will there be found fewer individuals
unable to read and write their own language
than among the Hawaiians.
In our generation. the dormant intellect of
a nation has been awakened, trained, directed
and invigorated. The solid fruits of the COM
mon schools began forty years ago, are seen
and felt to-day in whatever of mind, intelligence
or thought we find among the Hawaiians, be
they Reformed Catholics or Calvinists.
There are some, however, who, for their own
selfish ends are constantly striving to underrate
the value of the services thus rendered to the
people. Catching and holding tenaciously at
the exceptions that are inseparable from general
rules, they sneeringly denounce our common
school system MS not only a failure and "no
good" but unhesitatingly declare that it is
positively a nuisance that ought 10 be abated.
And from time to time the Government news
paper-that wonderful organ with such a funny
variety of IOnes-gives unmistakable symptoms
that these would-be : reformers' have squirmed
and wriggled themselves into the editors chair,
and then the Government policy as to the
public schools is set forth with Il frank %simplici-
" and clearness that would be refreshing. we're
it not impudent. We refer more particularly
just now 10 the issue of April %. "A certain
denomination of Christians is there treated
10 a priestly sneer, and their labors in the cause
Of Hawaiian education, ignored. a gentle
hint is given that the laws should he altered
N that persons - in holy orders" may bo eligible
70 the Office Of President of the Board of
Education and Inspector General of Schools.
Meantime until such L consummation, which
Is no doub. very deYoutly wished, the public
schools, together with pestilent Lahainaluna.