The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-01-13

as hiding places, from whence to
secure means of transit over the
wall, and escape, should be removed
therefrom, and this noble yard
should be divided into two, for
small and large boys. Each would
be, in such case, about 250 feet
square, at least. Mr.. Hill has
thought that the whole area should
be enclosed in high wall, and the
divisions for the boys marked only
by picket fence, so as to bring the
boys under the personal inspection
of the principal, from his own resi-
dence. The cost would be the only
objection to this plan, amounting he
thinks to $4,000 at least. The APP
pearance would not be improved,
for it is now very pretty spot, but
that might not be an objection. The
endeavor to make the school re-
forming institution under the present
disadvantageous circumstances, has
been a source of great anxiety. The
frequent assertions, the petty thefts,
the continual occurrence of minor
offenses, Sthe indifference to moral
and wholesome pleasures, are con-
tinual sources of disappointment
the boys seem to be always preparing
for desertion, and ever ready to
break through every restraint.
The windows of the dormitory are
20 feet from the ground. When the
lower sash was fastened with pad
locks, they pulled the staples. When
they are additionally screwed, they
used bits of sheet iron and broken
knife blades as screw drivers. When
the sash was screwed on the outside
with three inch screws, they man
age to squirm through the opening
in the upper sash, space of per-
haps ten inches left for ventileation.
They escape, and return after some
petty thieving, over and over again,
and all the while the native warder
is sound asleep near by, or has
slipped out to his family.
With great deal of trouble, but
not with so very much expense, the
wall surrounding the play ground
could be made insurmountable, by
decoration on top, of line of
glass works. A line of battens well
smeared with cement, and filled
closely with bits of projecting glass,
would make an invisible obstacle to
escape in that direction, while flight
at any time from the front, is almost
certain discovery and capture. The
staff required to conduct the insti-
tuition upon the principles heretofore
mentioned, should consist Of a
Principal who should have the re-
sponsibility and oversight Of the
whole work. Two capable assist
ants (white men) who should take
acting charge of the teaching and
the field work and one Of them at
least serve as warder. A native
warder, and a strong, common
sensed, white woman, as house,
keeper. There would be no trouble
in running the institution with such
staff, and strict regularity and
correct discipline could be guaran-
teed. To be sure it would cost
something for the salaries of such a
corps, not less than $500 a year.
But it would be the right thing.
With reference to the school work,
being myself in charge Of that de-
partment, 1 am readily speak for it..
1t is the hardest work of the kind 1
ever had to do. Take the half a
dozen very bad boys, whom every
teacher knows so well, out of other
schools, and place them together in
one school room, and you have an
idea of my good fortune. They are
not only mischievous but tricky and
quarrelsome. They do not seem to
appreciate learning, but prefer hard
labor in the sun. They only like
school as variety; l have about sc
boys in the school, divided into four
grades. Nine learning from primer
charts, p in Swinton's 1st Reader
IA in Swinton's 2nd Reader, 6 in
Swinton's 3rd Reader. In arith-
metic, 2 are in fractions, 10 in long
division, 6 in multiplication, 8 il
subtraction, "a more or less in adj
dition.
In teaching reading it is my plan
to use the blackboard great deal
and to go slow. The u boys in thu
lst Reader for instance have only
gone over 80 pages in 8 months, les'
than one usual page week, anC
much more than half page in sole
reading. With reference TO arith
metic have never believed in, no
made use of books, in giving instruc
ton. The examples are given out
and commonly combine the rule
which have been previously passec
through, and the first hand that say
done, goes to the board to place tn
work and the answer, before tn