The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-10-08
Memorial.

To rHE board OF EDUCATION, fruHs The Trustees Of
kH,cIfahuo SsHIusHTg;
The rules of the Board of Education in regard
to clpitation fees, which went into effect July l,
1873, were designed, as stated by the Board, ito
encourage the entry, at family boarding schools,
of girls at an early age, before they may have
formed vicious habits and in order to 50 apply the
limited means 1t its disposal for the benefit of
those who attend such schools, as TO do the most
good The fees cumulative, SIS for the first
three years, $50 for four years or more, TO all
scholars not paying more than $50 year for board
and tuition. No minimum limitation is fixed on
the age at which girls shall enter these schools.
But no girl, entering after ten years of age can
receive any caPrtatou fees, nor any one over six
teen years.
Granting that the object of the Board may have
been accomplished, 80 far as is involved in en-
couraging the entrance Or very young children, is
the operation of these rules, the whole, such an
application OF the means at the disposal of the
Board as to do the most good! What has been tae
effect of the restriction imposed refusing all CAPT
tation fees to girls who enter over years of age
and 10 all girls over sixteen! We are of the opin
ion that this restriction Is now, and always has
been a hindrance and 4 damage to the operation
of these schools Thoss who have had and now
have the management of similar schools, concur
with the Trustees of havaiahao Seminary in this
opinion and have united with Us in bringing our
views to the notice of the Board of Education.
After these ten years experience of its injurious
effects We athrm more strongly than ever our
trUus; we repeat our former circumstances against
its enforcement; and renew our request that it be
at once repealed.
In support of this memorial we desire to call the
attention of the members Of the Board of Educa-
ton to sons facts and observations.
Isl The number of these family schools for girls,
reported in lsts, beyond which year statistics
are available for comparison, was i've In 1884,
there are only four, Eavaiahao, Makavao, Lahai-
na, henA. The rule has not operated TO secure any
increase IN the number of the schools. One, St.
AIMS Priory does not now apply for such govern
meut aid Two schools, MAkiki and holoa. then
| in existence are now defu1et- Two, Waialua and
kohaa, that have been put in operation within the
last ten years, have also within this period been
disbanded, for causes closely connected with the
| operation of this rule.
Sd The number of pupils, eighteen years ago,
was lao: the number reported in 1884, in these
aided schools, Is -. 1t will be observed by in
spectlon of the records Of these schools visit
to them, that this small gain is in the number of
very small girls, some young as three years of
age The rule fails to keep girls in school, or to
encourage any girls to enter these schools at the
age in which It Is Of great importance that they
should be under Just such discipline as is main
tanned in these institutions.
Sd. The Importance of a careful watch over girls
from II to Is years Of age Is equally as worthy of
consideration IN managing or assisting these
schools, as the merely negative qualification that
girls under ten years of age will be most likely Lot
to have formed vicious habits. The most critical
period, IN fact IN girls life Is when the prinei
pies of conduct, previously held up as desirable
traits Of character, may become fixed habits of life
or may be thrown 10 the winds under the stress of
specially pressing temptations. Ihs rule of the
Board, Withholding aid IN the education of those
girls who enter after they are ten years of age is
an unjust discrimination against those who need
most the help these school might afford. That
even few such older girls to be found these
institutions enjoying their advantages is fact for
which no Acknowledgement i due to any rule or
purpose of the Board of Education. The managers
OF these institutions have not had the heart to eI
eiqde any such, even though receiving them in
wolves some pecuuiary loss for these schools need
such older girls as truly such girls need these
schools.
4th- These schools have suffered and are suffer
ing from causes which might be remedied, IN
measure, we're the Hoard to repeal tine limitations
on age imposed by the rule of 1874. The statute
law hIss Is years the limit of the dependent posi-
ton OF girihood or childhood. 1t prescribes the
period from to Is the legal limits for acqur-
| ing the education furnished by the government.
But the character of the schools family boarding
| schools, implies such regulations and manage
ment as shall include all Ii the period of minority.
The dispropOrtiOnately large number of verT young
children. however, requires a larger number of
teachers to care for them properly, and 50 the
penses are dispropOrtionately increased Were it
older girls, who increase the number of scholars
there were 10 such need of this larger number of
teachers prOporiOnately, to attend to the work of
| personal supervision, requisite for very young
scholars We're there more cider girls, the neces-
sarE domestic work Of these institutions could be
carried to better advantage to the benefit of the
pupils themselves as we'll as to the advantage Of
Hawaiian female education generally.
Sch. For it Is evident that in the management
Of these institutions, the strain on the teachers
| from the continual personal attention that must
be paid TO 50 many very young scholars IN the
OF their persons, their clothing their occupa-
tIousY Is such constant strain, that health is
dangerously impaired Within these last ten years
one teacher after another has succumbed under
the pressure of such arduous Duties their services
lost TO sCcisty. and themselves made to feel
sfvasr
from which there is bot one deliveFauce. But with
such and as older pupils could give there coad De
better classification more Thorough training, more
varied instruction. Continuance IN the school
might be secured and encouraged by some rebate
OF tuition fees IN the way Of pay for work done.
btn- The aggregate Of eapitatiou fees may seem
large IN the gross amounts stated II the biennial
reports OF the Board OF Educatl0n; but taken an
allOEance 70 these schools, averaged to the iudi-
Tldua scholar II l. bot meagsr pittanee. for the
service rendered, ana that pittance, too, on d.
miuishIng scale In the biennial period ending
ise, the appropriations to these schools amounted
TO fs, that Is - AZ 50 annually, to i've schools
With lao scholars IN attendance; an average Of
Slb.lz per scholar annually, 40 cents week. In
1874, the amount appropriated vas ~ IO4l63 per
year 10 Is5 scholars, which would be $22 Is per
scholzr at 50 cents a week But In 1884, when the
resources Of the cOuntryi have largely increased,
and the eEI%nses of living are double, the Beard
appropriated only x4y0s5.s9 to - scholars, an
average of $3.50 to each scholar at IS cents per
week
tn II Is the frequent and strongly expressed
desire Of the Hawaiian people and the whole Chris
tian Community that these family boarding schools
for girls sho1ld be encouraged and sustained with
the cg1yiction that they vitality important fac
tors IN the future welfare Of the people of these
islands Successive legislatures bsVe made eener-
o1s appropriations and the representatives who
have spoken on this subject, have regarded as Of
great importance the aid that the Board Of Eiu-
eataou should give 70 these schools There are 50
many and such better eoTeznneni schools, than
there we're eighteen years ago, that many parents
do not care 70 send their childrHn 70 boarding
school tI they are over ten years of age The
snail increase Of expenditure, involved In such
change Of the rules Of the Board, IS nov urged
anew for these schools, If withheld, means more
than disappointment 70 the 0Eer-sangulne erpecta-
tons Of some educational enthusiasts. II means
shame. sorr0u- despair and death to many soul
that By s1ch withholding more than Is meet viii
be forever declared from privileges and advan-
taees that might have lifted them 10 positions Of
honor, and lives Of usefulness, and to a future
briaht nth hope and purity and Joy
rtl- Ont Of y scholars e. present attending Ka-
Eaiahao Seminary g arr ineligible 70 any govern