The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-12-29

encouraging to them in their efforts |
70 keep in touch with the purposes of |
the Board, and that they do not feel
as free to state their individual expe-
riences as they would if they knew
the Board itself had opportunity TO
pass on the same.
APPOINTMENT AND REMOVAL OF
TEACHERS.
We find there is no system what
ever In regard to the appointment of
teachers, some teachers were engaged
al the lowest rates possible, while
others received comparatively exor-
Dltant salaries, and this TO q certain
extent regardless of their teaching
abilities. In carrying out this prin-
ciple, women as a rule are engaged at
lower rates than men, although the
work and teaching abilities may be
substantially the same. The table
shows one school of ITO pupils taught
oy one teacher at an expense of $500
per annun1, while another school in
the same district with an attendance
or ll3 pupils has three teachers
at an expense of S2240 per annum.
We also find the salaries allowed to a
set OF teachers in any one school to
vary greatly with every change of
teachers, although the number of
NNACA~Ao anu oLAOAhI vi IcLlalh
the same. This very striking anomaly
In the matter of salaries could readily
have been avoided by a system of
grading the various schools and fixing
maximum and minimum salaries. 1t
would have prevented the appearance
! of favoritism in this branch of the
Boards work.
NORMAL INSTRUCTION.
Normal work is now being done by
Professor Scott, who has a class of
| about twenty pupils. He receives
twenty-five dollars per month, and is
doing excellent work in this line.
AT the teachers convention held in
Honolulu in the past, some valuable
normal work was done. These con-
ventions have been discontinued ow-
ing to the difficulty and expense of
sending all teachers to Honolulu.
Thereafter local teachers conventions
were held on different islands where
the same work was carried on.
Transfers of teachers have been
made from one school district to
another on account of complaints of
| moral shortcomings or intemperance
in their previous positions-causes for
dismissal rather than transfer to
new field.
REFORMATORY.
The methods adopted at this estab-
lishment are not of the kind to reach
the class of youth that are sent to this
school in the manner best calculated
to redeem them to life of industry
and thrift. The school should partake
largely of the nature of a manual
training school. Carpentry, black
smithing and shoemaking are three
trades that could be taken up with a
small original outlay; but thorough
course in agricultural work should be
introduced here as well as in some of
the English schools throughout the
group. The reformatory should be
made an annex to the Government
experiment station about to be located
on Punchbowl, where the boys would
have opportunity for practical work
in the planting, rearing and prepara-
ton of plant products for market. In
troduce, along with the above, a sys-
tenn of Communication for good beha-
vior, industry and progress in class
work, and we may hope in a few years
to have in reality what is only in
name today q refOrmatory.
In regard to the personnel of the
Board. the law at the present time
provides that the president shall not
be q minister or a person in holy
orders. This restriction also applies
to the Office of Inspector General. No
such requirement applies TO other
members of the Board. The tenure of
office of the members of the Board Is
indefinite.
The President of the Board, G.. r.
Bishop, Is at present out of the coun-
try, and his resignation has been sent
in. Professor Alexander is also absent.
OF the three remaining members, two
are now very busiIy engaged with
4. - e. l.
connection with the Board. The
duties of Inspector General require
him to visit all the schools in the
islands during the school year. This
duty has been performed with fidelity
and zeal. From personal observation
the methods of instruction introduced
and systematiZed under his super
vision, we feel that he is the right
man for the place, but the task is too
great for any one person.
There have never been any women
appointed on the Board of Education,
but we find no objection among the
present members of the Board to the
admission of women to membership.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
We recommend that all the re-
venues of the Board be paid into the
treasury as Government realiZations,
anu IIlaL III IuIuI0 Tie appropriations
for the Board be made sufficient to
sever all of the estimated expenses
that the clerical force be limited to
the Secretary of the Board or clerk of
the President, as he is defined by
statute, and one assistant, who shall
act as messenger and book clerk /; that
after disposing Of the books, material,
ETC., now on hand, the Board try to
make some equitable arrangement
with local dealers for the sale OF school
books and supplies.
In regard to the system of appoint
ing teachers and the apportionment
of their salaries we recommend that
beginning be made by classifying the
teachers so far as possible according
to the character of the work, the
amount of responsibility, and that
teachers of the same class be paid ap-
proximately equal salaries. We feel
that some simple system of promotion
should be adopted so that a teacher
advanced in experience and effective
ness should be promoted to position
calling for a larger salary, not as here
tofore, giving a larger salary with no
increase of duty and responsibility.
In regard to normal instruction, we
recommend that this be developed as