The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-08-15
Lahaina Union scboo, Exam,n.t,ou

On Thursday, July 26th, there was
neld an examination of the several
classes of this school, and as 1 had heard
SO much said about " methods of teach
lng" and normal training" used by
these teachers, | was anxious to witness
Ihe display. l visited every class and
saw the work done by each teacher and
am glad to say that 1 give my entire
approval both as to methods and results.
took with me the best talent could
md and we commenced with the lowest
class, taught by Mrs. Henry Dickinson.
and from what the Inspector General of
Schools had told me l was prepared to
see good work done even in this class
The teacher seemed to be perfectly happy
In her place and the children seemed de-
voted to the wishes of the teacher, and
II was pleasure to see the little ones
work. The teacher would point to some
object in the room and tell the pupils to
write the name and make sentences.
ana there was not minute lost, not
word spelled wrong, that | now remem-
Der; not period LETT out nor a sentence
commenced without capital letter, nor
question written without an interrogation
point. The work in arithmetic was done
most satisfactorily. The children would
make little equations and then write out
the explanation completely and with a
little story about it. This is the most
attractive method of teaching compost
ton have ever seen. To give an ac-
count of the tenth part of what we saw
would require too much space for an
article of this kind.
Suffice to say that we could hardly
break away from the class, but when we
got into Miss Ellen NJ. DiCkensen's class
the next above, we found the very same
method pursued, only more advanced.
and here the sentence-making was per-
fectly marvellous for children of their
ages. They had been taught to make
sentences of all kinds-declarative in
terrOgatiVe, imperative and excamative
changing them from positive to mega
tive, which | think a fruitful exercise
The reading of the sentences showed
the amount of labor that had been put
on this subject. 1t was delightful to
hear those little Hawaiian children read
the English sentences SO softly, aCcur-
ately and Understandings. The work
IN arithmetic from this room was most
satisfactory. l copied some of it for the
press, but | think it would require too
much space as | stated above. So |
shall content myself by saying it would
pay any young teacher to visit this
school for few days and observe the
working of all the classes.
We next visited Mrs: T. j. Haysel-
denis class. This is two years in ad-
vance of Miss Dickenson's. Here we
heard the best reading that have ever
heard done by Hawaiians of their ages
nc al hn
punctuation excellent The arithmetic
work of this class has reached quite
state of perfection. The pupils are
taught to make up examples involving
all the principles over which they go
and then the explanations are given as
though they were Intended for the
press. The perfect ease with which
Mrs. Hayselden conducts her class work
shows that she is d teacher, and the
accuracy and neatness of the class work
show the amount of care and drill given
to the work.
Next we visited Miss Baldwin's class.
The class is between Miss Dickenson's
and Mrs. Hayselden's, and here we
found that the work was progressive.
Miss Baldwin does not seem to allow
anything to stand between herself and
work. She really throws herself into
the business as a faithful teacher should
do. l cannot do Miss Baldwin justice
in this report, because my head was
aching badly and her room was crowded
so that / could not remain; but [ heard
from gentleman of many years eXper-
fence that she had some very bright
pupils in her class, and that they did
some very good work. From what l
saw and from what know of Miss B.,
l am quite agreed with the statement.
Last, but not least, comes Mr.. Henry
Dickenson's class. This is the class of
the school and am glad to say that the
work in every department showed
method and training. Mr.. Atkinson,
the Inspector-General of Schools, may
we'll feel proud of this class. All the
work was done in a manner becoming
the principals class. Hawaiian history
and geography, grammar, spelling, SEN
tence-building, common arithmetic,
reading and language lessons were all
gone through with without a jar.
Withal, do not remember ever wit
Messing, during my seven years among
the Hawaiian schools, more Satisfac-
tory examination. Every one seemed
gratified with the results.
Friday, July 9th, was a great day for
the little ones who we're to speak,
sing and recite at Wainee Church
and / must say it was good
sequel to the examination the day before.
A very attractive programme was car
RED out to the entire satisfaction of the
hundreds that filled the large church IN
Lahaina. At the close Governor Baker
made very practical and sensible talk
of about six minutes. He was followed
by Judge Richardson of Wailuku for
nineteen minutes, giving some of the
most wholesome advice to the parents
and guardians in regard to educating the
rising generation. Judge Richardson
always says the right thing and then
stops at the right time. l wish to con-
graduate the Lahaina teachers on their
efforts in carrying out the