The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-03-20
The Normal Classes.

iht NoEAAaAA NAdSHS5r
Mr.. EDITOR: As the Board Of
Education has authorized the Motif
cation Of another series of examina
tions of teachers and Normal Glasses
to be held at the different island
centers, will you allow me to say a
few words regarding the results Of
the first convention held in April of
last year? A short discussion as to
its success or failure in bringing
about the ends sought by the present
educational law-givers might not be
amiss.
As I write, the notes 1 took at the
last convention Of teachers are before
me, and find that a great deal was
spoken about cultivating that esprit
de corps which should characterize
the profession, the proper exercise
Of brain faculty, the development of
intellect, about being logical and
making the children under our care
reasonable beings, and much more
besides of like tenor, most of which
was entirely thrown away. on the
majority Of those present; or, in
other words, as a lady teacher aptly
remarked, the much esteemed and
deservedIy popular gentleman pre-
siding over the classes, talked over
the heads, with a few exceptions, of
the assembled teachers.
Now, sir. as the different methods
practised at present IN teaching
English to the rising generation of
our heterogeneous population are
purely tentative, and as many of US
are feeling our way to better ways
and means, for the attainment of
which q great deal of patient work
and constant trial are necessary to
find out what methods secure the
speediest and best results, and as
little or nothing can be effected by
convention meeting but once a year,
inasmuch as, IN the first place, there
is not sufficient time given to exhaust
each little detail of primary teaching
in manner to be of lasting benefit
to those concerned; and secondly, as
the best results of teachers meetings
cannot be achieved apart from actual
school work IN the class room itself
during school sessions, l beg en-
Dhatically TO assert, and every
teacher on this island having the
courage Of his or her convictions will
bear me out in the statement, that
but very few, if any. of the teachers
present at that meeting, carried away
any store Of useful knowledge that
was ever after put IN practice in
daily school work. | cannot there
fore but draw the conclusion that
our Normal Glasses held at Lihue
last year, were not as successful, in
their ultimate design and scope. as
could be desired.
But as the fat has gone
forth and another convention
is to be held and attended by
all the teachers next month, in
the interests of intelligent and sue
cessful education, and with a view
to securing and deriving the utmost
possible good from this next meet
ing, [ would beg leave to sug-
gest that in laying down the
course of instruction to be fol-
lowed, due consideration be given to
some of our most pressing needs. We
need fewer CONGRATULATIONS and more
copiOus and exhaustive details Of or
binary lessons as employed in the
classroom; less fowery eloquence
and rhetorical display, and more
blackboard work and illustration, in
which all present should be invited
and encouraged to take part; and
above all, we need that the instructor
bring himself down to the same
plane and level with the understand
ings Of those receiving instruction,
in order that the less favored ones in
point of education and experience
might be able to gain some insight
into better methods and principles
of teaching, and to grasp and hold
on TO something, however little,
which may prove Of lasting and per
manent benefit to them.
\ KAUAI TEACHER.
Kauai, March 18th.
4 woman named CasterOne tried
=, IL