The Hawaiian gazette., 1868-12-02

IN the course Of the leading article Of
this paper, for October 2sth, it was re-
marked, incidentally to the subject then
under discussion, that "the Government
has strivcn, aud is striving to advance the
schools" An anonymous writer, contrib
uting to another local paper, commenting
on this remark, says: "1he illusions Of
the Government writer's to what the Gov
ernnient are doing for schools, can only
mislead those who are not familiar with
the persistent efforts of Government, for
some years, to force the people into pat
ronizing system of education repugnant
to them, a system which has forced ma
iority of the people to support indepen-
dent schools, whilst taxed to support a
system which is odious TO them" We
have hitherto lately adverted TO the bold
ness with which some people make un-
founded assertions, and the steadiness
with which they reiterate them. Some
little knowledge of human nature induces
those who are willing to adopt and persist
in such course. to adhere likewise to the
plan of making general assertions, and to
scorn to descend to particulars.
There were, at the last report in the
common schools, 62ls children in nine
other schools, supported entirely by Gov
ernment, $50 children, making a total of
6s9s In addition to this there were in
eight boarding schools which are subsi.
died by Government, 343children. These
eight boarding schools were subsidized, last
year. by the Board of Education, to the
amount of 5000, and could scarcely
exist-certainly could not he as effective
as they are, without such aid. For the
most part, if not altogether, they were es-
tablished in view of Government assist
ance and support. There were at Puma
hou, at the time Of said report, 81 pupils.
The total number of children attending
all other schools, independent of and unas-
sisted by Government, at the same time
was only 1O3S-of which there were at
tending Sisters Of the Sacred Hearts,
Sc, and Ahuimanu College, 40, both Ro-
man Catholics. These two establishments
we're singled out, because it is presumed,
in view of the length of time they have
been established, and of the auspices under
which they are supported, no one will say
that the parents, who send their children
to them, have been forced by the present
Board of Education to sapport indepen-
dent schools.
One of the most efficient of the schools
whose numbers go to make up the COM
-paratively small number of those who are
frequenting Independent schools, has, since
the Report, applied for and received the
subsidy of the Government, whilst still an
other-one Of the largest-is now willing
and anxious to come under the Government
system. A new Farm School is now being
established on Maui, by the suggestion of
one Of our Oldest and most experienced
educators-Mr. G. B. Andrews-and the
services OF Mr., Robert Andrews and Mrs.
Sarah Thurston = children of the late
Honorable and Reverend LorTin Andrews
have been secured. The public will
therefore see that it certainly is not fact
that "a majority of the people have been
forced to. support Independent schools"
and all our most experienced educators are
in full accord and sympathy with the
Board of Education, in their efforts to
promote the good cause,
We should not forget to mention that
the very small minority of the children
represented by the l.O3s, includes the
children of foreigners who frequent the
private select schools in the City of Homo
lulu, and elsewhere, and that the serious
attention of the Board has been.given for
some time past to overcoming the difficult
ties in the way of providing suitable edu-
cation for those children, of both native
and foreign parentage, to whom the English
language is the ordinary means of domes-
tic and soSal intercourse.