Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1884-05-03
LrnnRsL sRsyrs ron EDrcArfov.

looked. Among them is that of the
education Of the people. At bottom
this IS perhaps the gravest problem that
conlronts US to-day. So much of veal
or woe is bound up in the training of
the youth among us, that even the
material development Of the land
dwarfs before it. Indeed the successful
development Of our material resources
is in no small degree contingent on the
wise treatment Of the rising generation.
Property interests suffer in value and
security with the growth OF illitcracy
From a mere ultilltarian standpoint no
one can view without concern the
yearly accessions to our population Of
foreigners ignorant and predisposcd to
illltcracy The present value OF such a
population to plantation interests is very
great Cheap labor is a necessity so
far as those interests are concerned.
But the permanent security Of planta
ton interests IS dependent in no small
degree on the stability and contented-
ness Of the laboring class. Could care
ful computations be made Of the loss
sustained in dollars and cents by the
various plantations on account of dis
content and rebellion among laborers it
would prove quite an item in the course
of year. Multiply our present disad-
vantagcs in the matter of an idle, or
discontented, laboring class, as the years
are likely to multiply it, at the present
rate Of immigration, and the prosperity
Of plantation interests will be seriously
impaired The interests of society are
far greater than those of any single in
dustry, however extensive the ramllica-
tions of that industry may be Govern
mcnt must do all in its power to aid its
chief industry but it must see to it that
its population does not come to be OF
such character as to fill its jails, and
depreciate property values, and impair
the good order Of society. No factor
can accomplish more in fitting a popu-
lation for intelligent citizenship than
common-school education. Hence the
growing importance of the educational
department of the government Hence
too the necessity and wisdom of more
adequate appropriations to meet the in
creased demands made on the board of
education. Let there be true economy
there as elsewhere; but let there be an
increase rather than any elimination in
appropriations for educational purposes,
and provide methods for wisely expend
ing them.
The school accommodations of the
kingdom are insufficient, 1t would
doubtless surprise the friends of educa-
ton, were they to realize that children
are practically denied common-school
privilege among us on account of this
very lack of sufficient school accom-
modations. The Portuguese addition
to our school population has far ex-
ceeded the provisions made for their
accommodation Not only do new
school buildings need to be erected,
but old ones need to be remodeled and
enlarged. Old school districts have
become depopulated and the common
school population has gathered at
new ccnters. This needs to be con-
sidered in planning outlays for build
ings, SO that the money actually grant
ed for school buildings shall be ex-
pended at the needy centers irrespect-
i've of the old districts Let the school
house be built right among the children,
so that there shall be no excuse for
lack of attendance on the score Of dis
+opca I %, tho ,;ll;,re ba ,,aot ~
tractive and comfortable, thus they
may add their quota to the civilizing
influences of school life. When half a
million dollars is expended for purposes
of immigration, it is not to the credit
OF our common prosperity that not
enough money is appropriated to com
fortably house our school population.
1t is undoubtedly true that the teach
ing force of this kingdom is Insufficient
for the increased demands made on it.
1t must not only be increased as to
numbers, but also as TO quality. And
this can be done most effectually by
making it an inducement for more of
the better class of Hawaiian young
men to enter the profession. The ma
tive boys who have received special
preparation for this work cannot always
be secured for the schools where they
are the most needed, because the
salary is too small. A judicious in
crease in the salaries Of the country
school teachers would be an advantage
) both in securing the best teachers and
in retaining their services for longer
| periods. The interests Of education are
too urgent to make it either wise or
: profitable for the plantations to absorb
{ the likeliest young Hawaiians as in
structors.
So much Tor the meren elementary
. work of our common schools, But
shall not the government take an ad-
vance position in the matter Of aiding
the higher schools of the kingdom ?
, This higher education, with the excep-
ton OF single school, is in the hands
of men and women who, though not
directly under the control of the Board
of Education, do yet recognize its right
Of supervision, and work in fullest har-
( mony with the educational policy of the
kingdom. They love the work they are
! in, and are molding the Hawaiian home
life of the future. In many respects
J. their lahors are most salf-sacrificino and