The Hawaiian gazette., 1870-07-13
REPoRr OLE coMM1TTEE
Appointed to examine the Common Day
Schools in the District of Honolulu.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE
Appointed to examine the Common Day
Schools in the District of Honolulu.
Hon. W. P. KAMAKAU, President Of the Board of
Education:
With respect, we the Committee appointed by the
Board of Education to attend the examination of the
Government Common Day Schools of the District of
Kona, Honolulu Oahu, hereby humby submit
report to you.
On Monday June goth, at the Kamoiliili Church,
were examined the Schools of Waupe Kali, teacher,
"a scholars present at the examination Paloo, ]. H.
Kanepuu, teacher, Is scholars Manoa, Kamokuiki,
teacher, so scholars Kanoiliili, G. Kekpi, teacher,
20 scholars Waikikikai, Mrs. NovelO, teacher, 1S
scholars. Total number of scholars present AL
Tuesday, June 2lst at the Kawaahao Church,
were examined the Schools of Moanalua, Malaki,
teacher, 35 scholars Moanalua W. Kaopuiki, teach
er, &c scholars Kalbiuka, Kamakea, teacher, 16
scholars; and Kapalama, Mrs. Alapai, teacher, 20
scholars. Total number of scholars present, 81.
Wednesday, June 22d, at the Kawaiahao Church,
were examined the Schools of Maemae, 5. Kuaumo-
ana, teacher, 81 scholars; Pauoa Mrs. Pakeke Ke-
liipio. teacher, 13 scholars Kamakela, Mrs Kckahu
ma, teacher, 80 scholars Kawaiahao k, A. Kalauli,
teacher, 81 scholars; Kawaiahao W., Mrs. Emalia
Namaielua teacher, 40 scholars. Total number pres
ent that day, 177
Thursday, June 23d, at Kawaiahao Church, were ex-
amned, the Schools of Roma w., Mrs. Kikina, prin-
cipal, l0l scholars; Roma k, Lapilio, teacher, SO
scholars Kalihika Kahananu, teacher, Y scholars;
Kaumakapili, S. P. Kahukula, teacher 60 scholars.
Total number of scholars present that day, 295.
The number of Common Schools in this district, is
49, and the number of scholars present the exami-
nations the above days were 710. We are inform
ed by the school agent of this district that larger
number of children present the examinations
this year than have been present for several years
past.
The studies in which these schools were examined,
Reading, Mental and Written Arithmetic, Alge-
bra. Geography, Writing, and Singing. Children
learning their letters were not examined before the
Committee.
1t apparent to the Committee that some of the
schools had advanced The Committee would com
mend the progress made by of the Catholic
Schools. but in doing believe it to be owing the
fact that the advanced scholars in those schools are
not sent up to the Higher Schools. In the other
Schools the advanced scholars are every year sent
out to enter at Lahanaluna.
By the table herewith appended, will be seen the
grade of each of the schools in the studies examined
before the Committee, and in the numbers attending
By attending at these examinations, the Committee
have been impressed with some important points to
lay before you for consideration, which perhaps may
tend to regulate and invgOrate the instruction ac-
corded to the young of this country, viz
First-The absence of suitable reading books In
observing the recitations in reading the Committee
particular in noticing the books used and
satisfied of the great deficiency in this respect The
want of proficiency, and the hesitancy shown by the
scholars in their reading, attributable chiefly to
the lack of suitable Readers in the Common Schools
All the books used for Readers were unsuitable and
i'll adapted to the years and capacity of the children
The Committee is therefore of opinion that no time
should be lost by the Board in providing suitable
Readers for the of all the schools of the country
capacity of the children.
Second-To instruct the teachers not to skip about
in their teaching. The Committee observed that in
some of the schools, the teachers allowed the i'm
proper practice of skipping the elementary, and
iDstrueting the children in the more advanced parts,
before being thoroughly drilled in the rudiments 1t
is proper to warn them against such a practice, as
the chief benefit be gained in instructing children
by grounding them thoroughly in the rudiments and
making them progress uniformly to the end. This
subject should be carefully attended to- that perma-
nent benefit may result to the children.
TAirdIt is not proper to mix together the old and
young children in teaching them the map exercises
and geography.
On this subject the Committee would say that the
younger children taught some things by rote
without being made to thoroughly understand the
Therefore the Committee would recommend to
the Board, that the children betaughtin classes grad
ed according to their advancement.
Fourth-It is not proper to teach Algebra, unless
the lower books in mathematics shall first have been
thoroughly understood.
At the examination of the schools above named,
it observed by the Committee that some of the
scholars had been instructed in the higher branches
of mathematics, without being familiar with the low
The Committee have heard that the object of the
teachers in thus instructing their scholars was to
gain praise for their advancement. Such feeling is
commendable when the teaching has embraced the
lower well as the higher subjects. The unftness
of such method was seen in the Manoa school, under
Kamokuiki, teacher.
FVfh.-That writing and compositions. be taught
with diligence in all Of the schools. se
In of the schools, your Committee were
shown some sheets Of writing by the scholars but
they were only few. The desire of the Committee is
that the teachers of all the schools should be required
to teach their scholars writing Gin this way Because
the acquiring Of such Instruction is Of the creates.
importance to the scholars, and will be of benefit to
them in every occupation in which they may engage
in after life. The second subject, that of compositions
il important that the teachers should persevere in