The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1888-10-16

DROPPING into the education office the
other day, we learned something of the
Kona schools, from the reports furnished
by the Inspector General. He says that
in South Kona there has been consid-
cradle advance made in English educa-
ton. The two English schools in the
district, those of Kailua and Pahoehoe,
being now on fair road to success. The
new school law seems undoubtedly to be
working well, for we notice that the
former school has got up from seventy to
one hundred. The new school Act is
reported as very acceptable to the Portu-
guese who objected, and with perfect
justice, to send their children to schools
where only native is taught.
! We find the Board have been very
active in building schoolhouses. Three
new school buildings have been erected
in the Konas, viz, at Kailua, Pahoehoe
and Alae. At Hookena an additional
room has been built. These new build
ings that are being put up by the present
Board are really fine and are ahead of
even some of the Honolulu schoolhouses.
They are fitted with every requisite for
modern teaching and are very different
from the uncouth barns that were thought
sufficient for school purposes few years
ago. Besides the buildings recently
erected in Kona, new schoolhouses have
been built at Makapala, Kohala and
Ookala, Hilo, at Kaupo, Kipahulu, La
haina, Halehaku and Haiku, Maui, and
large additions have been made to the
Ainakea schoolhouse, Kohala, to that at
Kappa, Kauai, and to many minor school
houses. Several teachers houses have
also been erected, the conditions on the
other Islands being such that it is abb
solutely necessary for the Board to put
up houses for the accommodation of |
those whom they employ.
Considerable. activity has also been
displayed in white-washing, repairing
and cleaning many of the old school
houses. From the energy displayed
there can be no doubt that in the course
of couple of years or SO, the school
property in the Kingdom will be credit
to the country, instead of being the stand
ing disgrace it was year ago.
There is much, however, for the Board
to do in the future, much lumber to
sweep away and very many improve
ments to make. The whole educational
system here had become SO like every
other part Of the government that it will
take a considerable time to
right it.
One of the great drawbacks the Board
must labor under is the lack OF proper
nome for supply of teachers. In every
civilized country OF the world this want
has been felt and strenuous efforts have
been made and large sums of money
nave been voted to meet the difficulty.
Every State in the Union has its Nor
nal school or schools. England has its
raining colleges, so has France, Germany,
switzerland, Sweden and Norway. The
lay when any one with an education could c
re pitchforked into the position of a .
eacher has long gone by in all those /
with the exception OF England Z
Thich still considers that mere univer- !
ity education fits a man for teacher in n
he great public schools. But for its
chools for the masses England demands a
pecially trained teachers. This anomaly 8
l Education we will treat of another ar
Gle.
In these Islands, though a step has
cen made towards training teachers, n
nd We understand that Lahainaluna is Il
eing conducted with special purpose IL
that direction, still thorough normal b,
'hool is required. The Legislature at 8 :,
s last session voted small amount for D
commencement at Fort Street School. ii
nd we hope soon to see that the COM ''
is already made. There are
pward OF 1900 children in this country
school age. To see that these are :
-operly trained in the future is what the
oard of Education Is for. Within the
ext few years there will be many va 7
.ncies in schools to fill. The vacancies n
lould be filed by Island people, but y y
ey should only be filed by such Is OF
nd people as shall, by subjecting them pr
Ives to special training, fitthemselves
r positions of teachers. That will be :
e use OF the normal school. If our Is
nd people will not subject themselves :
special trainingrequired, the Board will i
en- be in duty bound to import trained &C &C
achers from abroad. Unframed teach vi
5 are as dangerous to the body as j