The Hawaiian gazette., 1882-07-12

10 zHE TRUSTEES or OAHU COLLEGE, Your
Committee appointed on the Examining Board,
beg leave to state that in far as they were able
in two days oral examination to see, the disci-
pline and progress Of the students we're in the
main, most satisfactory. We may say, however,
in this connection, that We believe no board Of
examiners, however competent they may be, are as
earableof judging Of the progress and attainments
Of students as their instructors
Nothing can do this except a we'll conducted
written examination. Such an examination. With
questions covering the ground, passed over during
the year either published. or to which access may
be had by the patrons and friends Of the College
would do far more in our opinion to give a correct
knowledge Of the status Of the College than the
present system.
Oral examinations are known by all examining
boards to be VIGOROUSLY incompetent to give
anything like tho comparative standing Of scholars
Some may get easy questions, and answer them
Cliblv. while others may get difficult and not
answer them at all and yet be the far better
scholars. Then the very fact Of teachers knowing
the ordeal Is coming at the end Of every wear
causes them to spend month or more in what is
known as " examining. kEOwledge of all this
has caused school committees and teachers in all
the most advanced ceuters Of learning TO abandon
in a great measure, this oral system.
In the mechanical routine and discipline with
out which no institution can give the best results
aimed at. Oahu college ranks deservedly high.
The Importance Of thorough discipline, maintained
by urbanity and kindness. yet with frmness and
dignity. cannot be too highly estimated.
We are pleased TO report that in the branches Of
study pursued. there seemed 10 be readiness of
answer and familiarity with the subject, on the
part of the pupils In the higher classes in history
and mental philosophy. the students recited un-
derstandingly. and appeared not by any means
exhausted. but to possess reserve Of power after
their examinations
We only wonder that any real solid results have
been obtained in chemistry and physics, when we
think Of the apparatus available for illustration.
Il Eould be as rational to expect good work from
farmland without tools, as 70 expect to see
good results from any instructor IN these branches.
If he have not the app1ratus with which to accom-
plish those results
We have seldom seen students more ready,
quicker at catching the meaning Of the original,
or reader in tTanslating than Mr. Pratts students
in the classics. This fact is the more worthy Of
mention. when we consider that this gentleman
teaches from the very rudiments of arithmetic
through Homer IN the Greek. II will be a decided
step il the right direction. when the upper and
lower departments Of the College are separated;
and hear with great satisfaction that the
Trustees have decided 50 TO do. This change
will Be most beneficial to both departments. Il
vii give the Overwored instructors Of the College
proper, more time to devote to a more congenial
work; and it viii enable the teachers Who have
charge Of the primary school to organize more
thoroughly and to prepare better qualified esndi-
dates for admission into the higher school II ail
also enable the College TO raise the standard Of
scholarship By raising its standard of admission.
We cannot but feel the Importance IL this cOnnec-
ton 10 point out the fact, that We believe the
cause Of education IN the Hawaiian Islands would
be greatly enhanced. could It be arranged and
understood TO give and did give what in the United
States would Be called good High School educa-
ton; that il prepared the Hawaiian youth TO enter
any college AZ home IN any one of three depart
ments, and that al Who enter its portals must
pursue one or the other Of the three courses.
Those who do not wish a classical course could
ffl1rt
though they never see a college, they are well
equipped IN educational point Of view, for LIES
responsibilities. II tins Eould be understood, and
that tho schools IN Honolulu prepared pupils
thoroughly 70 point v1eru they could enter the
high sciDol course, and no further, We believe
education II Honolulu v0uld receive an impetus.
and attzfin viaDT, hitherto unknown.
This indicated change would give the teachers,
IN the % called puble schools IN Honolulu more
time 70 do more ample work BY them not having
10 devote large portion Of their time 70 four OF
Eve students IN partial high schooi cuurse, and
doing no work thorUushly-~It would give, also- all
students Who Eould 80 to Oahu Coiiege- all the
atTantaces OF fernafxed cuurse Of Instruction.
after good primary and grammar schs5l drill
The pupils q Tie school 50 far as We noticed-
showed fair aitalnn1euts n n1athernallcs and n
the higher classes, ianshf b. Mis- Winter, e.
celied especially class IL Conic sections Il
is unfortunate that ths Colleee should lose this
pains-taling and highly gifted teacher
Miss Eoyce's class IN physiology stood the shots
Of tEo physiciars and two laymen, IN this very
interesting study. and came Of dauaCed b. none
accomplished such satisfactory results without
the azsistarea d the cheap and splendid physioio
ric1l charts. nov 80 tasty obtained Il shows
boz readily children take % saJ q The nstuz..ll
sciences The lower class in bftory seemed vel
rr il the ordirlry list Ok dates t1tfIls- etc
Hls que4u1l whether he oTeilradinr u ne
c1ild1 MIND ulth tie Of hst1f7 does
10 ra4E11S f<i1rr than si-1rzl1eu he 1lind.