The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1891-07-07
EDUCATIONAL.
An Address Delivered Before the
Hawaiian NJ. C. Society by
DR.. G. p. Andrews. June 81.

DR.. &. =. Andrews, June ~.
theoretically the object in educating
children IS 10 train their faculties 10 the
highest development, in order that their
intellectual power may be enhanced by
the variety OF resources At command.
Practically the child is educated that Its
capacity Tor breadwinning may be IN
creased. Up 10 q certain point these two
objects in education are IN harmony, out
then thew diVerge, or rather the theore-
teal scheme involves . lar wider range
IN the training OF the scholar, and aims
1t so expanding the intellect that 1t shall
have control OF the widest field IN its
progress upward, irrespective OF the
value OF lis acquisitions in the work OF
making 4 living. 4 rational scheme Of
education aims TO SO equip the scholar
that he shall have the capacity 10 appre-
ciate purely intellectual pursuits and st
the same time be fitted for business sue
cess.
With this object the tendency OF the
time Is TO specialize the higher education
and 10 give 10 each individual the line OF
training likely 10 be most useful. The
day has passed when even Z humboldt
can compass the details OF all knOwl-
edge Now, we are entering period
when the exigencies OF lie are so great
that the demand is becoming loud for q
shorter time for preparing the child to
be a man; that the youth may be ready
earlier for business, and that IN spite OF
the necessity for q better training and
more thorough culture, TO meet the ad-
vance IN all branches OF knowledge.
wish 10 enter protest against this muir
der OF the iunocents by the Moloch OF
business.
I take rs q standpoint the view OF the
physiologist, understanding the condi-
lions OF development in childhood and
youth, the period when the foundations
OF education must be laid. During the
latter part OF the period OF growth the in
tellectual facilities increase in power IN
almost geometric ratio. The infant for
several months presents only rudiment-
airy senses, with scarcely the suggestion
OF intellect, for many months more.
When the iambkin or little chick has
learned 10 shift for itself, and is TO all
inteuts adult, the human infant has not
even learned TO know its mother, and
by the time the baby speaks Its first
word, the chick is 2 mother with 4 brood
step upwards f0r the child; tbs first
months were devoted 10 the perlecting
Of the organic machinery which for the
rest OF life Is ID make or mar the SYM
metTy Of an immortal soul, with all its
possibilities; for so far as We know the
man, soul and all, is nodded by his bodi-
" individuality. So It becomes US to
pay due respect TO the needs of this ina
terial ensWathement," as Joseph Cook
calls it. The science OF education has
advanced hand in hand with other sci
ences. until now its fabric has become
very elaborate and complete, but it re-
mains to be proved whether it is truly
scientific. More than in any other branch
OF knowledge, perhaps, education in
wolves the element Of the personal
aquatiO,n as the astronomers term 1t,
VIZ, the peculiarities OF the individual as
affecting his capacity for acquiring
knowledge. The public educator OF ne
cessity deals with large numbers, and
his methods must be adapted to the
multitude, and yet wise instructor, IN
view Of this indiyiGualism in talent, stu
dies the character OF his pupils, and
bends the rules to the case. l am happy
10 find that such painstaklng Is the rule
with some Of our own instructors, and Is
considered by them Z most important
part OF their duty.
1 believe that q tendency OF the time
that is pernicious Is to crowd too much
into the tender years. The popular kin
dergarten system, admirable as its me-
thods are when properly limited. Is liable
20 be perverted and become IN evil. 1t
makes play OF work, that Is, 1t makes
work 2 pleasure, and IN the excitement
OF the pleasure the strain upon
the nervous system Is overlooked.
True play exercises the muscular
system chiefly, and the brain only in
cidentally and briefly The Creator has
implanted in the healthy immature
human animal the love Of activity, that
the body may be developed first; and
the dislike OF continuous mental effort Is
the natural object OF the imperfect brain
cells to do that which they are not yet
fitted for: 1t is the brake which Nature
applies to make children 90 SLOW; the
exceptions in children who are preco-
cious as to mental activity prove the
rule, and they rarely in mature years
are the equals OF those who came to UNI
derstanding later. kindergarten work
all tends to excite the brain-cells TO ac-
tivi.y, which means an increase OF the
blood supply, and so unnatural growth;
the very variety itself is stimulating, and
the pleased little one goes form one hap
piness 10 another, never long enough TO
TO become tired but every one Of the
exercises appeals TO its intelligence and
taxes its understanding far more than
simple play. In proof OF this, It IS very
common TO find nervous, active children
actually exhausted by tine course, so
that after 4 few weeks or months 1t Is
necessary 70 take them out OF school.
Moreover, this plan tends 10 foster the
desire for change, and an intolerance OF
persistent application. This may not
appear in the kindergarten room; but
later. careful mothers who nave brought
I'D children both with and without Kin
dergarten training have assured nae that
the former method did not prepare the
children as well for later work as less
stimulating method. The fault lies IN
the length Of the session and the class
Of children in question. Undoubtedly,
children belonging TO the uneducated
classes are, as rule, much less suscep-
tible to this kind Of stimulation than
those who have from infancy been sur
rounded by an atmosphere OF culture,
and who are constantly under q kind
of kindergarten influence at home. For
such children the hours should be the
brIefest one-half to one hour at most
For the street urchin It is by far the best
place possible, and for as long time IS
NAV be, for his home life will certainly
counteract any danger Of over stimula-
ton