Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1883-07-28


the annual examination Of Oahu College To-
1854. report as follows The examination wa
condur,ed entirely in writing during the hrs
two days-Friday the 18th. and Monday ih'
18th OF June, in twelve different studies. You
committee has not had time to critically cN
anime the whole mass Of manuscript lait
before them. We do not consider that ",
have been appointed TO act as a board Of ex
aminers to determine the comparative stand
ing Of the pupils. or to award certificates o
proficiency in study: but rather as visiting
committee Of the trustees, as has been tn,
practice in former years In the case of FIVE
classes examined bv Miss Royce and three 10y
Miss Lewis, the papers handed in had already
been corrected and marked, and the averages
made out, which greatly facilitated our task.
In our opinion, this work, as well as the duty
of grading the school, belongs exclusively to
the teachers, who are far better qualified Tor II
than any examining committee Is likely to be.
We have, however, inspected the papers on
each study sufficiently to form an intelligent
opinion, and can safely say that, as a whole.
they reflect credit on both teachers and pupils.
The questions are well chosen and well
adapted to test the pupils understanding OF
the subject, while the papers handed IN by the
pupils average fairly, and in some instances
were Of a high order The following subjects
were examined in writing in arithmetic a
class Of nineteen were examined by Professor
Pratt in a thorough manner and with highly
satisfactory results, while Miss Royce's classes
in trigofametfy and comic sections deserve
special praise. Miss Royce also examined a
class Of twelve pupils in physiology, another
OF fifteen in American history, and one OF
twelve in physical geography. Their papers
were Of very even merit and, with very few
exceptions, ranked decidedly above mediocnty,
giving evidence Of training by faithful and
laborious instructor. Miss Lewis examined a
class of twcntysix in arithmetic, whose an
swers were very unequal in merit While the
majority Of them were dcsefvcdly marked very
high, about one.third evidently belonged by
right to a lower grade. and should have
formed separate class. In English grammar
two classes were examined by her, one CON
tanning ten and the other seven pupils, who
were much more equal in their attachments,
and showed fair acquaintance with the
principles Of the science. In
chemistry four pupils were examined on
twenty topics, and in physics or natural pho-
sophy, six pupils on twenty-five topics, by
President ZONES. Both of these sets Of papers
are highly creditable to all concerned, cspe-
cially when we consider the almost total lack
of suitable apparatus for illustration. In Latin
but one class passed a written examination,
viz: that in Cesar which has been under
Professor Pratt's instruction and consists of
seven young ladies' The paper set requires
the translation of Chapter Nv, Book 2nd,
with grammatical and historical questions, and,
as far as we have been able to Judge, the mem
bers of the class acquitted themselves in a
creditabe manner we should, however,
have been pleased to have included an exercise
in transating from English into Latin. The
oral examination was held only on one day,
the 10th, and but two of the committee were
present during the whole of the session, the
others having been unavoidably detained
During the forenoon the examination in geo
graphy, conducted by Miss Lewis, showed A
commendabe degree Of success in dealing with
a large and unequally graded class. a large
class in algebra was examined by Professor
Pratt, and showed fair degree of proficiency,
also a class in astronomy was examined by
President Jones. During the afternoon the
graduating class, consisting of three young
ladies, was examined in mental philosophy, the
text book used being Hopkins ''Outline
Study of Man" II was an extremely interest
ing exercise from its life and freedom from
"book work." and the grasp of principles
rather than words shown by the class. The
exercise was a recitation by class
of beginners in Latin conducted by Professor
Pratt, the text book being "Leighton's First
Lessons" This exercise was very interesting
and reflected much credit on all concerned.
We were gratiiied by the commendable success
of the Hawaiian members OF the class who
labored under the disadvantage of attempting
to learn difficult language through the medi-
um Of another foreign language. Your com
mittce regard the time thus employed well
spent. for, aside from the mental discipline
acquired, the study Of a highly infected langu-
age like the Latin will give them an insight
into the structure and analysis of language, as
well as a command of English which could
hardly be acquired as well in any other way.
Besides studies mentioned above, classes have
been taught during the year in English litera-
lure, in geology and botony, upon which there
were no examinations. II was also a subject
Of regret that the customary rhetorical exer-
cises were omitted, although we are aware
that there have been frequent exercises during
the year in composition and defamation. II
appears to your committee that, while it is
desirable to hold written examinations and
reviews at the close OF each OF the FIRST two
terms, and at other times, for determining the
relative standing of the students, the old
fashioned public examination AT the close o
the year has strong reasons in its favor as Z
means OF interesting the friends and patrons o
the school. The music, which was mostly in
s,rumental, was Of high, order, and was rem
dered with taste and feeling. The arts o
drawing and penmanship have not beer
neglected during the past year, and, beside
the books exhibited, some free hand drawing
by Miss Kate Rogers from models wer'
shown, which were of striking merit. II gives
your committee great pleasure to witness III,
presentation Of testimonials by the pupils Il
the retiring president and to Professor Pratt
and to observe the evidences Of mutual respec
and good will which did so much honor t
both parties. II only remains to add that tn
exercises OF the graduating class at Fort-Siree
Church, on the evening Of June aand, wer
highly creditable to the college, The essay
made up in literary merit what they lacked i
plumber, and were read in an unaffected an,
appropriate manner, while the whole exercise
Of the evening were highly. interesting an
enjoyable. ro,
THE NATIVE SCHOOLS. ta
The writer not being able to be present q
the examinations OF the schools mentioned he
low quotes from the Advertiser "On Tue.
day, the examinations Of four Of the nativ
schools, the Kalihi-uka, Kalihi-kai, pauo
and Moanalua, were held in the kaumakapi
Church, and lasted all day OF the -four, III
Kalhi-uka School was decidedly the best, an
the committee who conducted the eSamnaiio
complimenied Mr., b. W. Kekuinai, h
teacher, on the good results of his work. O
Wednesday, the Kawaiahao, kaumakapil
Roma kane and Roma wahine schools wei
examined, and, out OF total number OF OF
4 -. n. L..