The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-01-07
The REFORM SCAn0L.
rPaper read by Rev. c. +. Groser,
at the recent meeting Of the Teach
ers' Convention in this city,

OF his paper by saying that he thought
it bis duty TO remark that Mr.. Hill
and himself had worked for nearly
nine months in perfect harmony,
without the slightest conflicting pur-
pose. Nothing in this paper, there
fore, should be taken as personal.
Doubtless Mr.. Hill thought there were
many things he Mr.. Groser] had not
done which he ought to have done ;
and he was certain there we're many
things Mr.. Hill might have done which
he had not done. He Mr.. Groser]
had suggested little and urged moth
ing, for what he thought were wise
reasons. 1t was said that man
should not be neither hot nor cold"
But Mr.. Hill had been placed in try
ing position, and he Mr.. G. in an
uncertain one, and he believed it his
duty simply to go on quietly, hoping
for improvement eventually in the in
stitution, whether lie remained in it
or migrated to Australia or New York
city,
l regret that l have not longer
acquaintance with this subject, and
that it was not entrusted to Mr..
Hill, whose familiarity with the work
extends thrugh decade of years.
1t is not probable, that you would
care to hear the history of the insti-
tuition, there being so much that is
more important to consider, aQd
limited time for its consideration.
The subject assigned to me, namely,
the Reform School, is somewhat
curtailed IN its title, and l have
therefore presumed upon presenting
it in its full form. The institution
is, however, generally known as the
Reformatory School; but in fact it
has more imposing title than that,
namely, "The Industrial and Re-
formatory School," suggesting for
itself something more than the idea
| of Prison House for boys, which
the word Reformatory seems to infer
to some minds.
There are many, to my knowledge,
who think, in view perhaps of the
numerous depredations committed
by its escapes, that its windows
should be more securely barred, and
its inmates regarded and treated as
prisoners. This would simply mega
tive the idea of reform, contemplated
in the establishment of this school.
Every effect has its cause. The
cause of the thing complained Of in
this case, is due to the fact that the
staff in charge has been insufficient,
and the work interminable. 1t
could hardly be supposed that over
fifty boys of bad character could
be we'll managed by two persons,
one of them native; and this has
been the case for ten years, at al
events, with the exception OF my
short residence in connection with
the institution. Certainly the work
has not been carried on, morally
industriaily or educationally as II
should have been carried on; but
the fault cannot be said to lay at the
door of those who have been il
charge, and the remedy can only bt
found in the appointment of an in
creased staff of suitable persons
which is now contemplated and being
done.
1t is a matter of amazement Il
me, and to many, how the institution
has been carried on so well as it ha
been, considering the number of tn
boys, the character of the work ant
the insufficient means at hand.
Steadily however, year by year
improvements have manifested them
selves; the numbers have increased
: new buildings have taken the plac
of the old ones, good strong fencin!
has been done, and paying farm
, lands have been acquired where tn
boys may be seen every Afternoon
I knee deep in the taro patch, o
spreading and bundling the fragran
, hay.
} 1t will be we'll to say now, befor
going into the subject in way tina
< will lead up to its discussion, tina
: the two points thus far mentioned
, that is, LIST, the true character of tn
institution and End, the inadequac
! of the staff hitherto, are point
g about which the Board of Educatio
has never been unconcerned, an
: has over l believe had correct ideas
4 The trouble lies in nutshell. Thi
E Kingdom is small, and its revenu
+ far from enormous. What the Boar
has done, and what it might hav
liked to do, and what it may do, al
the triangle of the matter. In q
r fairness it must be admitted, thu
;, considering the home and stree
,, from whence the most of these boy
4; come, knowing what we all know
d this school affords good hon
l. even as conducted in its presel
$ limited way for boys of vicious al
v wilful character.