The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1885-01-21
The Hswniinn Publio sehool srstem

Inquiry is often made by visitors to these islands,
and by others interested in educational work. what
sort of public school system is in operation at
the islands, what its noteworthy features, what
evidences of prosperity aud progress in the diffu
sion of intelligence among the peoplel 1t were
we'll If there brief outline of the history of
education, the methods pursued and the work ac-
complished, well as some general description of
the present organization of the Department of
Education, and of the mode of management. The
best that be done now by any one who wishes to
make such historical investigation. is to examine
hle OF the biennial reports OF the Board OF Edu-
cation. But the information CLEANED will be found
to be extremely meagre and unsatisfactory. Facts
and figures in the possession of the Board which
would be of great interest to this community, and
especially TO all engaged in the work of education
The radical change made in 1871, by the substi-
tuition of the English language for the Hawaiian,
IN the instruction of children, was measure de-
manded by the progress of events in the history
of this kingdom. 1t lecessitated new methods of
school management, and new measures of educa-
tional administration. The great objection, so
persistently made in previous years, that the ex
penses would be beyond the financial ability Of
! the government, has been shown to be without
validfoundation. The successive Legislatures have
been more willing to grant appropriations than
the Board of Education has thought fit to ask In
fact there has been all the money in the treasury
that has been asked for educational work. More
over the last report shows that the appropriations
made by the Legislature in 1882, for two of those
most admirable adjuncts to the government schools
the Girls Boarding Schools appropriations of
$40 600 for Waialua, and &, 600 for Makawao-have
not been drawn. OF the appropriation OF $4,000
I for the support OF HawHiian and English schools
not much more than one half was expended, only
$4l 5S7S3, that is, about eight fteenlhs, leaving
IN the treasury, at least undrawn, $S 46217. If
this has been done because the money which might
! have been, and ought to have been spent for edu
cation, has been squandered in other doubtful and
even unwarrantable expenditures, there has been
\ somewhere and somehow shameful neglect of duty
Snd OF opportunity In the prosperous times that
this country has enjoyed for the last seven years
there ought to have been secured for the children
and youth of the land the exceptionally favorable
| advantages which the times afforded. Good school
ho1ses should have been built, and proper repSirs
made To some little extent this has been done
I But the report of the Board acknowledges that
there still ten select schools without proper ac
commoda dation- Only four school houses, according
70 the report were built during the last two years
and two only, in the previous biennial period. II
/ the Board were hampered, because according to
the terms of the Appropriation Bill only $4,000
were appropriated for school houses and this ap-