The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1871-09-20

A fair degree Of attainment mauifests itself il
the art Of handwriting in most of the schools
/ Composition writing is not taught, being bal
indifereutly understood by the teachers them
selves. / hope soon to be able to open up this
avenue to intellectual Improvement in our com
mon schools.
THE TEACHERS OF THE COMMON SCHOOLS
Have been appointed to their responsible situa
TONS not so much in regard to their qualifications
as from sort Of Hobson's choice, -" this OF
none" The whole system of appointment4to
common school teacberships is based upon the
necessity of q choice from a very restricted
amount of very Indifferent material. The highest
ambition of 4 teacher appears to be to obtain the
largest possible amount of wages 10 return for the
least possible amount Of labor. There are some
honorable exceptions to this rule, but observa-
ton has shown me that 1t holds good in majority
of instances. Having had no specific education
in the line Of their profession, the teachers have
entered upon its duties with no proper apprecin-
ton Of either its nature responsibilities, but
simply as a means to obtain livelihood. Con-
sequently, a lavorite scholar, wife, or the luna
paipai is frequently called in to preside over
the school, whilst the duly appointed master
thereof is away on his private business, which
may possibly extend even to the conducting of a
case in the district law court.
The great majority Of female teachers en-
ployed in the girls schools are very incompetent
to fill their positions with credit. This will ac-
count for the fact that the average Of attainment
in the schools for girls is much below that in the
boys or mixed schools. have designated Fri
day of each week to be devoted to teaching the
girls needlework III its several branches. con
slider this as necessary part of girls educa-
ton as either Reading, Writing, or Arithmetic.
THE NODE OF INSTRUCTION
Is very shiftless and monOtOnOus, depending en-
tirely upon the capacity and energy of the teach
er The teachers have been left almost entirely
to themselves to develop each his own mode Of
school organization, and consequently, have come
to look upon any official interference or sugges-
tons in the light of an infringement on their
rights Briefly. l have found the following mode
Of instruction to obtain extensively throughout
the schools:
A mechanical enunciation of words, supposed
to constitute reading;
A rehearsal by pupils uuclassfed, of certain
form Of analysis in arithmetcal problems, kept
up until the teacher tires of the mouotouous ex-
ercise;
The pointing out of localities on the map of
the world, without any attempt to memOrize the
so obtained
A great tendency on the part of teachers to
slight the younger portion of the school;
A system of examining near the time of the
annual examinations.
1t will be apparent at a glance, that the above
mode is an eminently easy one for the teacher,
and not a very intellectual one for the scholar.
In fact, intelligence stands one side, or is made
10 play an inferior role. The mental powers of
he pupil are not developed to anything like their
normal extent. They lie in allegiance.
In striking balance on behalf of the common
schools, as l found them, l would credit them
With
An average good attendance of pupils
Good intellectual capabilities, and docility on
he part of the pupils;
A fair degree of general intelligence on the
,art of teachers
A degree of attainment in the knowledge of
ext books, imperfect though it be.
Per contra, would place to their debit:
A shiftless mode of instruction;
Ignorance on the part of teachers of the prin-
iples on which education is based;
A lack of esprit de corps" amongst the
eachers;
Frequent changing of scholars from one school
o another;
Lack Of text books;
Lack of school furniture;
Inferior school accommodations, in many in
tances
The teachers, as a class, are poor discipliHari-
as; the schools are generally very noisy.
In order to remedy, as far as possible, the de-
,cts in the common schools, have devised the
blowing system, which has been, in part, carried
ut during the past year
L-Quarterly school terms.
H.-Quarterly conventions of teachers for the
urposes of Instruction.
III.-Annual examinations of teachers.
N.-Grading of teachers according to merit.
Wages to depend upon the grade.
VL-Quarterly supervision of the course of
udy.
VII--Classifcation OF pupils
Villa weekly review of lessons.
Quarterly school terms have already been es-
blished, and conventions for teachers have been
l have personally conducted these
inventions on Hawaii, Oahu and Kauai. Eff
ent aid has been rendered in connection with
EN- in other parts of the islands. So far as /
n learn, good results have already been obtain
by this mingling together of the teachers. 1t
uld not be otherwise, where such conventions
: well conducted. The teachers have been paid
their attendance at the rate of fifty cents
Y. This does not increase the expense of
e common schools, but simply devotes a Dor
u of time heretofore given to schooling
iiaren, to the schooling of their teachers.
eliminary examinations for teachers have been a
d. and the result exhibits low standard of Q
ainment. have conducted such examinations v
Hilo, Iahaina, MOlOkal and Oahu. The aver. '
! degree of attainment was .2l9,l being the = :
udard of perfection. A printed list of twelve : :
estions each, in mental and written arithmetic y