The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-11-12
The Employment OF Teachers with Dis-
ease, in Government Schools.

The Employment OF Teachers with Dis-
ease. i'm Government Schools.
Mr.. Editor IL not objection
able to you, should like space in
the ADVERTISERS columns TO ex-
press few general views about
the employment in the Government
schools of teachers who have the
dread disease in their family or
are suspected of having it them
selves. Several instances of just
such cases have been brought TO
the writer's notice.
1t is generally conceded on the
Islands that nearly all classes of
people here seem somewhat indif-
ferent in regard to the disease
that is, it's not considered so horri-
bic, so loathsome and so contagi-
Gus as to. keep as strict a watch
over its spread and to so carefully
weed out and keep debarred from
contact with others those who are
suspected as was the case in former
years when the disease began to be
felt. In fact, the writer has heard
persons of reasonable amount of
intelligence assert that the misfor-
tune Is no greater than that of hav-
ing consumption, and would prefer
the former if they were to contract
either disease. Such assertions,
coming as they do, and the appar-
ent indifference as to efforts to pre-
vent its spread certainly indicates
a bluntness of feeling, lack of in
terest to the physical welfare of
the country and a carelessness that,
to say the least, is not compatible
with the advancement of the poll
teal, social, physical or even finan-
cial interests of these Islands.
However much accustomed we
may become to the sight of it, the
stern reality, when squarely and
fairly looked at, exists that it is
the most loathsome and dread dis
ease known to the world.
Although no other government
than the Hawaiian has done 80
much towards diminishing its
spreading, and taken such care of
those having it, yet, in spite of the
incentive CD given by member of
the present Legislature TO with
draw the appropriation from the
Leper Settlement for the purpose
of giving it as reward to any of
the medical fraternity to discover
cure, medical science has not deter
mined whether it lie spread by in
oculation through mosquitoes
bite, by eating from the same
dishes, by limitation of the breath
of those affected, by marital rela-
tons, or in any other particular
way. 1t is known to be contagi-
Gus, but how SO it is not known,
and as long as 1T is not known ex-
actly IN what way it Is contracted,
just so long should every step be
taken to prevent in any way it's
spread.
No reflection can be made
against the Board of Education for
lack of interest in advancing the
education of the Hawaiians. New
ertheIess as incredible as it at
first seemed to the writer and
to others it is an undeniable fact
that several cases are known where
teachers, who have had members
of their families taken to Molokai
and are themselves suspected, are
still retained in the schools. In
repeating that 1t is not definitely
known how leprosy may be trans
mitted, any and every fair-minded
reader of the ADVERTISER must ad-
NIT it is at least indiscreet to
place in the school-room such
teacher, and that it is highly objec-
tionable to parents having children
under his or her instruction to
other citizens and to fellow teachers
! who more or less must unavoidably
come in contact.
True, as almost everyone on the
| Islands knows, there are instances
where some members of family
may be stricken with the disease
while others may live to an old
age without showing signs of it,
and their children and grandchil-
dren after them. But let anyone
ask himself the questions: SIS it
likely or not to be contracted by
being placed in contact with one
who shows signs of it in the
family" Gam / willing to take
risks when, as easily as not, we
can place chances above risk !"
THE answers to both must be unani-
mously the same. 1t is generally
felt that it is not in any respect