The Hawaiian gazette., 1888-10-02

ONE OF the most important measures
passed at the late session of the Legisla-
ture was the making OF the Eng lish
schools OF the Kingdom free. For years
there has been a singular anomaly in
school matters in this country. The
original idea was that there should be
free education for all. So there was as
long as Hawaiians only had to be edu-
Gated. The common" or native schools
have always been free. The Hawaiian,
however, began to see the advantage Of
learning English and il became the habit
to establish English schools wherever
the population demanded them, on con-
dition that those attending them should
pay small fee, s. year. In this way
English schools gradually began to
spread all over the country till the re-
port OF the President OF the Board OF
Education for 1888 shows total OF
$500 native Hawaiian children attend
ing school, over "A per cent in English
schools. But while this might be all
right from the point OF view OF the Haw-
allan, ii was not so from the point OF
view OF all the other nationalities
which have tlocked in during the
past ten or fifteen years. The Haw-
allan, unless he chose to elect
English, had a free education in his own
language. The foreigner found COM
pulsory education law but could not
obtain free education, for the only edu-
cation, that would be OF any avail to
him, was in English and that was
charged for. Now s. a year may seem a
small sum, but a laborer getting $40
month and having three children to
send to school had TO put up SIS, which
is no small item.
Undoubtedly this had a great effect in
keeping children of poor parents out OF
school. An ignorant laboring class do
not readily see the advantages of educa-
ton and they do see the natural advan-
tages OF a few reals earned by their
children. When the people had to
lose the services OF their children
and had to pay fee to boot it
is no wonder that they did all in
their power TO evade the school law. 1t
is notorious that in spite OF all efforts a
large number OF children have been kept |
out OF school.
Referring to President Bishops report |
We see that at least 100 Portuguese chill
dren in the district OF Hama have not
been attending school and in answer to |
enquiry made to the Inspector-General |
Mr.. A T. Atkinson, We learn that Hama |
is not an isolated case. Mr.. Canavarro,
the Portuguese Commissioner, also in
forms US that there has been much |
trouble with his countrymen over the
Did school law and that some have even
eft the country on account OF it.
But this is all changed now and it will |
be very interesting to see what effect the
new law Will have. The cause of com
plant, a just one, has been removed. |
Now viii those parents, whom we have
been discussing, send their children
more readily than in the past? Ii they
10 not the compulsory law should be
most stringently applied. The Legisla-
.ure has done its share towards improv-
ng educational facilities, it is for the
Board OF Education to see that these
ABILITIES are taken advantage of. We
hall refer to this matter from time to
line and shall watch the working of the
lew law with interest. The future OF
his country depends upon the excellence
# its educational institutions and it is a
public duty to see how well they are
managed and how thoroughly the ignor
Z ~ Il