The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-07-11
Report of the Examining.
Honolulu, June 9th, 1874.

Honolulu, June 9th, 1874.
To the Trustees Of Oahu College,:
GENTLEMEN-The undersigned having been ap-
pointed by your honorable body to attend the an
nual examination of the institution under your
care do report as follows
The general appearance of the school betokens
prosperity. There is a sufficient attendance of
scholars to give life to the daily routine, to excite
emulation in the different classes, and to stimu-
late the teachers to do their best. The material,
too, seems to be good. There is therefore moth
ing in this line to cause Encouragement, but, on
the contrary, much to sustain hopes for the
future.
The teachers appear as a body, and individu-
ally, to advantage. They are evidently interested
in their work, and no better proof of this need
be cited than the spirit of earnestness that seems
to characterize the scholars. This last is perhaps
a matter of as much Importance as that of espe-
cial proficiency in individual branches of study,
underlying as it does, all real success and true
usefulness. OF course this same earnestness in
dicates good discipline.
The examinations were very we'll carried on,
and appeared to be on the whole, fair tests of
ability, as much so probably as verbal examina-
tions can be. The common failing in the recita-
tions, however was noticed of poor enunciation.
Where there was reading however either from
written slips, or from books as in translating this
was not so apparent as it was in the answers to
questions. A prompt, energetic style of speak
ing, should always be required of every scholar,
whether it is necessary to the teachers hearing
or not. Scholars too, should be taught to rise
promptly at the calling of the name, to look the
teacher full in the face, at least for the greater
part Of the time when reciting also to feel that
due respect is to be paid to themselves personally,
and thus q habit of confidence and self-respect be
induced. These are matters Of primary impor-
tance In ovory school. Training even as to the
proper amount of motion required from the or
gans of speech especially OF the lips, is some
times necessary, as observant persons have re-
marked that in this climate the children of for
eign parents are very apt to be negligent in their
English articulation.
The above criticisms are not applicable to the
reading of the compositions, which will be no.
ticed further along in this report.
With respect to the separate branches of study,
geography seems to be taught with much minute
ness and accuracy. The query might be made
whether Il larger share of attention might not be
due to the physical features OF the countries that
come under review by the class.
Mathematics are well attended to, there being
two classes in arithmetic, one in algebra, and one
in geometry. The latter especially appeared to
advantage. In arithmetic, the demonstration of
the rule for square root might perhaps have been
n little clearer.-and a few errors in algebra es-
capped unnOticed otherwise all was good.
The natural sciences were represented in nat
ural philosophy, chemistry, and physiology. The
Rotations in all these branches were spirited
anu interesting -NdLulUl HAl4OeOIuN IL CNIltullN
clothed in an attractive CARL in the text book
used. The chemical class have made fine pro-
gress, and the class in physiology has been espe-
cially well taught in q useful branch Of knoWl-
edge.
The ancient languages certainly are not going
out of style in this institution if we may judge
from the four classes examined. Two pupils have
progressed sufficiently far in the Anabasis TO enter
an eastern college. The teacher in the language
department has taken much praIseworthy pains
in calculating the history relating to the portions
of the classics that have been studied, also in
regard to style and subject matter.
Previous to noticing the English literature de-
partment, it may be in place to allude 70 a slight
oversight, viz. that no exhibit was made of the
spelling, nor of the training of the scholars in
writing and punctuation. The Committee there
fore can make no report thereon. English gram
mar is well taught in the form Of analysis. The
literature class showed to decided advantage.
The compositions produced were well and dis
tinetly read, besides being interesting in subject
matter.
The drawings exhibited by the class in that
branch showed good taste and careful work. We
would not be understood as expressing any blame
when we suggest that the most practically useful
part of an education in the use of the pencil is
the ability TO sketch the simplest objects at sight,
and a future examination might exhibit the pow
es of the pupils in this regard,-On the black
board for instance or a sheet Of paper.
The exhibition on Friday night malkedhigh as
n test of ability. Considerable attention has
been paid to defamation, and the whole perform
ance was better than ordinary. The Mock Court
dialogue, and the Literary Charade were ad-
mirably done.
The gymnastic department should not be over
looked. 1t is a most important part of the train
ing, and all the pupils, with due regard to in