The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1866-06-23
REPORT
OF the Committee ON Schools to the Ia-
waiiHn Evangelical Association,
AdOPtcd June II, 1866.

The Committee APPOINTED to prepare an ex-
preston Of the sentiments of this Association, in
regard to the Common Schools, beg leave to re-
port: That whereas the intellectual, moral and
religions training of the youth of any people lies
at the foundation Of their prosperity, therefore
we cannot do otherwise than feel Il deep interest
in whatever affects the schools for the Hawaiian
youth. And while have great reason to re-
.jDice in what has been accomplished in the way Of
educating nation 50 lately pagan, yet have
great reason to fear that during the past two
years this cause has been retrograde.
it seems evident that those who have the direc-
tion of the schools pursuing systematic meas
ures to rid the schools of the influence and teach
ings Of thus, who first taught the people to read
and write. Hence
l. The FORMER system of school laws was re-
pe;lled by the Legislature two years ago. and the
office of School Superintendent created, giving
him exclusive power To select, apVOin5 OF remove
all the teachers Of all the schools.
- The person first elected I'LL this highly
responsible Office, and who continues to fill it, Is
y. Fernandez. Esq, who for a series of years,
editor Of "a public journal, had shown intense
hostility to the American Mission and their doc
trines, and great contempt for the system of
schools they had inaugurated.
; The wishes OF the parents are utterly disre-
.sarded in the selection of men to instruct their
children.
4. Ii is announced that all religious influences
shall hereafter be excluded from the schools.
D. That the Bible Will be disallOwed as Il
school book.
s. The teaching of music is forbidden as a
school tx rcisc.
J. TIE Board of Education have assumed the
exCr :, of ecclesiastical iuncticns and prescribed
I form Of prayer to be used by the teachers in
the schools.
g. The distinction between Catholic and Pro-
testart schools l. ignored, and in many cases
Cath lie teachers appointed over schools for
mctiy taught by PrOtcStant>, and whose pupils
were chiefly, If not entirely, OF Protestant pa
rcntags-
Q. The same also has been the result of the
establishment of scUIrat: schools for boys ana
girls Catholic teachers ral idly Increase over
schools where or all the children are Of
Protestant parents.
10. Men. too of immoral character have been
appointed to the Office Of teacher and School
trustee.
H. ! number OF school houses have been sold
IN districts whar. there enough children t. sus-
tain school, though 1t Were intended that
tIe children in those districts should hencctor'h
crow up III Ignorance.
- The teachers are left without the help Of
a. EsHH kuia. formerly chosen annually by the "a
rents to gather trtlant children to- school. and
- consequences the number of pupils Is diminish
Ing. and there l. reason to fear they will gTadu-
ally disappear.
II. rs general thing uniform rat" Of wages
(iuIf collar a day) has been paid u the teactl-
erS without regard To- the amount # labor per-
formed or tie skill and fidelity Of the teacher, and
thus ali stimuli excel are thrown away. the
school funds speedily exhausted and tlie children
turned loose: roam during long vacations
In view Of these things, and whereas Com
Inttee af the Legislature have invited us TO confer
with them on the subject Of schools, therefore,
PesoIred. That We appoint Committee Of our
BODY 10 confer with them these subjects.
ResoIrsd, That III districts where tine wishes
OF parents are d>regarded in the selection OF
teachers we advise them to take measures To
establish schools on their own responsibility for
their children.
All OF which is respectfully submitted.
W. Il. ALEXANDER.
L. CoAN,
j. T. POGUE,
NJ. kUAEA.
C0zaHliftee on Schools.
Ii.