The Hawaiian gazette., 1889-01-01
The English Language In Hawaiian
schools

( improvement which has been made in
/ the educational department OF the Gov
eminent under the present Beard OF Edu-
cation, there would seem vet to be some
points OF administration about which
more knowledge would be desirable.
The great number of new and commodi-
Gus school houses, the increasing number
OF able and faithful and acceptable teach
ers, are evident facts that rebound greatly
1 to the credit of the present Board. But
soms, who are interested especially in
the welfare of the Hawaiians, have been
led to query whether the present policy
is rs advantageous in some respects, Us
it certainly is intended to be, TO the best
interests OF Hawaiian children. Unfor-
tunately, this is not country in which
accurate statistical information is easily
attainable.
Mr.. Kuudsen has had most favorable
opportunities for personal knowledge in
regard to the Hawaiians on Kauai. His
| friendly interest in the people, as well
as his official relations to the schools,
give to his expressed opinion Il value be-
| yond that of anyone less familiar than
he with the social conditions OF our is
| land community formerly and ut present.
In the letter from him recently printed
in your paper, he deprecates the exclu-
sion of the Hawaiian language from the
schools for Hawaiians. In this particu-
lar, wish to express my concurrence
with his opinion and view of the situa-
ton. rather than with the stand taken
by Principal Scott in his reply. Yet in
this expression of'opinion, l wish to treat
fairly aud Justly those who in advocating
different sentiments, have adopted pol
| icy which in their judgment is the best
| ADAPTED to the condition and needs OF
the Hawaiian people. In advocating n
different policy, l would yet not be be-
! hind anyone in acknowledging the debt
of gratitude this community owes to the
philanthropic zeal and indefatigable
labors OF the President of the present
Board of Education. 1t is not so much
| the study of English exclusively, which
marks the divergence OF views in regard
I to the policy of the Board, as the exclu-
sion of the Hawaiian language from the
schools, in which according to the last
census Hawaiians and half-castes consti-
tute 81 per cent. OF the school population.
| The question is not merely in regard to
the superiority OF one language over an
other as medium OF instruction; nor TO
| the superior economical value of the
! English in business point OF view No
one can deny the unreasonable advan-
| tage of the English language. Nor is the
| point OF difference the propriety OF teach
| ing English, as showing an unjust par
TALLY in view OF the mixture of foreign
| nationalities in every school district,
Chinese, Portuguese, japanese, Ger
man, Norwegian, as we'll as English.
The Japanese Government has acted
/ wisely in choosing English as the foreign
language to be taught Japanese children,
| rather than French or German. The
medical department of the University at
Toxic, under German teachers, is the
only one in which any other language
than English is used in the classroom.
1t is expected that in a few years every
graduate OF the normal schools Will be
able to teach English; and so in the
public schools OF Japan it is the English
language which is to be taught, in pre-
ference to any other foreign language.
| But it will be noticed that English is
TO be taught, not to the exclusion OF the
native tongue, but co-ordinately and
subsidiarily. So too, in these islands,
no sane person would think OF insisting
on making Hawaiian the language OF the
schoolroom, and require the teachers
that come from the States to acquire the
Hawaiian language. The point, which
Mr.. Knudsen brings forward; is the
pressing difficulty in the present policy
OF the Board, the exclusion OF Hawai-
ian from the Government Schools for
Hawaiians. This is not like making
English the language OF the schools to
the exclusion OF German in such Ger
incorporating communities as Cincin-
natl or Chicago, or New York, where
English is yet the national language.
But the fact is as stated by Mr.. Knud-
sen, condition of things to be deplored
and remedied that the present genera
ton of Hawaiian youth is growing up in
| ignorance of their own language, unable
to read or write it properly. And they
are also growing up without that knowl
edge of the rudiments, the fundamental
principles and facts in mathematics, geo
graphy, grammar, history, and physical
science, such as would better fit them
TO be intelligent and capable members
OF civilized society. No benevolent
organization can furnish education for
people, as was formerly attempted here.
1t must be done at public expense; but
in doing it, the policy of the Govern
ment should be to encourage and streng-
then, not TO throttle, the Hawaiian ele-
ment in our heterogeneous population.
The charge has often been made, I'M
| justly, SO any well informed observer
would say. that those who came from
the States to Christianize the Hawaiians.
tried to make them over in cast iron
mould OF New England pietism. 1t
seems to ME that our modern scientific
humanitarians in the policy they are
adopting, are trying to make over the
Hawaiians after the prevailing standards
OF nineteenth century mercantilIsm.
The cry is, "Away with this people, not
fit to be capitalists and managers of
trusts; nor trades-union leaders, seeking
for the horny hand of toll the scepter OF
rank and power" If it be true that
Hawaiians cannot be boss mechanics, or
merchant princes, or leading LAWYERS
and who, that knows them, has any idea
they ever will achieve such social dis
tinction ?-have they no right to life, in
dependence, and social activity in such
fashion as may best suit their national
r1ofsfIli 10 ri ias, axyo,. &c +L..