The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-07-24
MAUI NEWS.
A Two Days Convention at
TVaiIuku.

was still gayly decorated with its re
ception day bunting. After calling
the assemblage to order, President
II. S. Townsend delivered an inau-
gural address enthusiastic in the
cause Of teaching and strongly re
commencing local circles with
courses of reading for teachers as a
means OF perpetuating the interest
and increasing the benefit to be de
rived from the present association.
Miss NJ. r. Nape Of the Makawao
school then gave a short but inter
esting exposition of her methods in
teaching language to beginners.
This address was followed by j..
A. Moore on "Methods of Teaching
English to Hawaiiars." Mr.. Moore's
words were carefulIy listened to and
excited a good deal of debate,a as to the
benefit to be derived by the pupils IN
the use of diagrams In the analysis of
sentences.
He illustrated the method by send
ing class of his pupils to the black
board, and If their neat and accurate
work did not convince the opponents
of the system, at least 1t won their
admiration. After lunch, at 1 P. N.
Miss Z. Mundon of the Makawao
school in clear aud concise way ex-
planned the first step in the tonic sol
fla method, end at the request of Mr..
w. G.. Crook made the convention
sing ''doh, me, sol" using the signs
made by the hand. Mr. Crook after
wards introduced a simple song by
the same method.
In the absence of W. E. Saffery Of
Lahaina the talk on reading was
omitted. Then followed report by
j. l.. Dumas in regard to an educa
tional journal for the islands. He
was encouraged by the receipt Of
letters from teachers on the other
islands strongly advocating the plan.
The following motion was carried
that the president of the association
appoint one teacher for each district
throughout the islands to take the
matter in hand, and arouse as much
enthusiasm as possible within their
respective localities After some
talk about diagrams, the meeting ad-
journed.
The attendance during the day ex
ceeded fifty, most of the Hama
teachers being prevented from at
tending, as the school agent felt that
he could not consistently permit
them to close school two days earlier
than the appointed time .itLout any
official notice to that effect. Prof.
and Mrs. CT w Babb, of Kameha-
meha, were among the visitors pres
ent.
At 10 A. n. on Friday the meeting
was again called TO order, and Mr. Ii.
Dickinson, of Lahaina, one Of the
most successful teachers OF the tonic
sol ia, gave his views concerning the
teaching of music in government
schools. He stated that So per cent.
of the teachers In England and
Wales used the tonic method, and
ont of 500 New Jersey teachers con-
suited, 499 of them endorsed the sys-
tenn.
He illustrated his ideas very clear
Iy by dividing the convention intO
four parts which sang the soprano,
alto, tenor and bass of q song written
on the blackboard. This event was
greeted with much pleasure and in
terest.
At 1O:4O Miss NJ. de Carmo Of the
Paia school, IN q pleasing way, show
ed to those present the three simple
PRINCIPLES of peumanship now in use
in Hawaiian schools. She also ex
hibited triangular bit OF cardboard
which would aid the pupils much In
giving the correct slant to the letters.
The subject Of common fractions
was illustrated on the blackboard by
Benz. Kahoopai, of Hama, by dia
grams, applied examples, expiana
tions and statements. His neat work
on the board was worthy of common
dation and imitation
At1P.M. Miss r. E. Crook, of the
Paia school, spoke upon school
Discipline" advocating strongly self
control on the part Of the teacher,
and explained the marking system
now used successfully in her class
room. Her remarks We're we'll re
ceived.
Mr.. j. l.. Dumas, IN his address on
elements of Physical Science" adj
vocated simple lessons on the human
body for beginners, to be followed
by teaching ideas of form, size, color,
composition, etc. Plants and animals
should be introduced in systematic
way-especially those most often en-
countered. He most enthusiastically |
advocated object lessons, but upon |
those objects which the pupil him
self could bring into the class room,
could handle, pull to pieces and |
describe.
A vote of thanks was passed to
those who had taken part in the |
exercises. 1t was then DECIDED that !
the convention meet once a year; |
that local circles for improvement |
be established in the different dis.
tricts: that ''BrowniDg's Educational
Theories" be adopted as standard;
and that the next general meeting
should be held in Waikiki.
After the reading of the secretary's
report by Miss Mossman, the meet
ing adjourned subject to the call OF
the executive committee.
The teachers were generally much
pleased with the convention and are
most grateful to their Waikiki and