The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1883-09-28
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

1uE rupLtO ouUUOGSs
Now that all the public school
teachers in the Kingdom have buck
led on their armor for the work of
another term. it will not be out of
place to make Il few remarks concern
ing the late examinations and the
educational system of the country
generally. A public examination,
such as the different schools passed
at the end of their last term is
practice long ago established in this
country, but its efficacy is question
able as just opinion of the capabi'
lities of the pupils can not be formed
from what is seen and heard on such
a day and visitor cannot gain an
idea of the actual work performed
or improvement made during the
previous months. In the first place
the children are nervous in the pre-
sence of SO many strangers, and this
is especially the case here, where a
large number of the native element
means-noise and confusion. 70
such an extent was this the case at
Pohukaina School that the Princi-
pal, was obliged to discontinue her
exercises after frequently begging
for silence, but what was exhibited of
the carefully compiled programme,
showed untiring zeal Oh her part,
the musical and calisthenic exercises
being better than those in any of the
other schools.
Another reason why public exami-
nations are unjust is because they
demand an unusual and unnecessary
amount of drilling on some single
lesson to be recited on the eventful
day-yet this was not every where the
case, as some teachers left the
choice of lesson to one of the au-
dience. A far better plan for those
really interested would be to visit
the schools at different times during
the term and notice the progress
from interval to interval, leaving the
last day, as remarked by one teach
er, to be a sauce to the pudding
and to form a first-rate dessert after
the solid work of the term
Of the literary exercises those at
the Royal School showed the most
careful study and also exhibited
considerable talent. The enjoyment
of the day was greatly marred how.
ever by the shuffiing of feet over.
head and din of voices from the
windows and doors, which were
block AIDED by spectators. Another
noticeable drawback at this schoo
was the utter want of ventilation il
the rooms, the ceilings being gene
rally low and some of the rooms
very poorly lighted so that the com
fort of the pupils is not considered
as it should be. One means TO
teachers to obtain success is t.
make the school room as attractiv
and comfortable as possible, thi
however is not entirely within thei
power.
A beginning has been made t.
teach the sciences in the Fort Stree
Schools, to make this success tn
lessons should be given as much a
possible from objects and not fror
books. We should also like to Sc
some effort made to teach boy t
become a mechanic or an artisan
We quote a few words from an ad
dress delivered before the free In
stitute at Worcester, Massachusett
in 1874 on the subject of schools fc
artisans. ''The establishment c
these schools has been an importar
step in human progress, not becaus
any great advantage has been game
in the cultivation of mechanical skill
but because the future mechanic az
quires culture of the mind as well
skill of the hand" 1t is of cours
not possible to do everything bl
small beginnings are often produ'
tive of great results. We think thu
it would be beneficial if the Inspe'
tor General of schools were TO pul