The Hawaiian gazette., 1872-06-12
CORRESPONDENTS.

My DEAR SIR: Permit me a space in you
: columns, to explain little, the system Of educa
: ton adopted at present 10 our common school:
in relation to Teachers Conventions. "EB
in the Semi Weekly Advertiser of June 9th
brands these as new idea" and very dis.
tinctyidefned individuals of the genus hnmbug.
Upon completing my first tour around the
Islands, amongst the common schools, one fact
stood prominently forth-the great ignorance Of
the majority of the common school teachers in
matters pertaining to the duties Of their profess
sion. Following closely in the train of this, was
second fact-the want OF better material from
which to select competent school teachers The
question arose how, in the face OF these two
facts. are the common schools to be made more
efficient? Not that these alone represented oil
the causes operating to the detrement of our
common schools; but they we're those most diff
cult to surmouut. Evidently yearly, or even
8 mammal visit from the Inspector-General to
elch school was not the solution to the problem
for such visits must necessarily be short. The
/ School Agents Of the different districts could
not in justice, be asked to do more than their
inclination or patriotism prompted them in
journeying around amongst the district schools,
as they were, virtually, unpaid officials. The
standard Of education 10 the common schools was
not to be elevated by any such means. A pure
stream could never flow from an impure source.
The teachers themselves must be taken in hand
must be educated for their work. How was
this to be accomplished? Was it by writing
articles for their benefit and Publishing them in
the native papers, trusting to every teacher
that they would be read and applied? Could
not the end be more nearly and speedily attained
by bringing mind IN contact with mind, and OBJ
tanning therefrom a healthy agitation Of the
dormant intellectual powers of the different
teachers? This reasoning led to the establish.
ment of Teachers Conventions" which have
been more or less successfully carried out
throughout the Kingdom, E. B. and his gen.
eral sentiment to the contrary Notwithstanding
Let me anslyze this general sentiment
foreign and native-of those most intimately
acquainted with the workings and results of these
conventions"
Kauai has been outspoken, and plainly in favor
Of the teachers conventions as they are at
present ably conducted by Rev. G. B. Rowell
From the Islands of Oahu, Molokai and Maui 1
all the echoings of this general sentiment
have been 10 favor of these conventions. which |
have heretofore been conducted by such men as
Messrs. c. J Lyons, R. Newton and E Bailey, /
whose qualifications to act as leaders of teachers
conventions are well known. The teachers con-
vention held al Hilo has been conducted by D. .
H. Hitchcock, Esq, who has had experience as a
school teacher, and is intimately acquainted with
the Hawaiian character.
There remain but two teachers conventions TO
be accounted for, to which the title of h,u11bug
can. possibly be applied -one at Napoopoo.
North Kona. and the other at Waimea, South
Kohala. These at present are both presided over
by native Hawaiians. the best that could be OBJ
tanned. Whilst these two conventions are not
as efficient as could be desired, STILL how can f.
B." justly apply the term hU1n5gg even to them,
seeing that he has never been present at either.
but taken everything on hearsay evidence?
"a new one in our midst, as " E. b. very well
knows it is but the revival Of an old institution
IN which, unless greatly mistake. " E. B." has
bonorably borne his part. Why then carp and
sheer at the revival of an idea which obtained
great favor 10 days of Aud Lang Syne, and was
ie,i considered a valuable auxiliary to our COM
mon school progress? 1t may be a serious mis-
fortune not to have been bora in Massachusetts,
and ii may be treason to initiate any Of its
heaven-born institutions; therefore / propose
that We light our own talIow candle" and ium-
mate, as best We can, our intellectual darkness
hoping, as we grow richer in resources to ex-
changeits feeble light for one Of greater lumin,
ltng power, although We nay never hope to
possess Massachusetts sun.
If " f. b." will condeScend to give a solution
IF the difficulty set forth in the two facts pre-
sented at the beginning of this paper, by suggest
ing plan which shall be attended with better
results than that already on trial, that plan shall
have a fair field to develop itself =" Z. B." is IN
ioubtedly the friend of the people; let him,
then, as he has denounced one part of our educa-
.ional system as humbug, come forward and
suggest a remedy.
1t is easy to point out imperfections; but
when a public body is doing its best in the in
erests of the people, it would be far better for
such men as E B. to assist it by their ad.
rice. than to yidiculs its honest efforts
Respectfully yours, H. r. HHcHoocK,
MsDectoy- General of Schools.