The Hawaiian gazette., 1894-03-13
A Radical Change Required in the
Hawaiian Schools.
IMMORAL PEDAGoGUEs ARE ACCUSED
A Symposium of Intelligent Opinions
From Teachers Townsend, Malcolm
and Abbott-Radical Reforms Are
Demanded All Along the Line.

Three letters from prominent ed,
ucators appear below. They are
expressions of opinion on matters
pertaining to the Board of Educa,
ton that are well worth reading:
LAHAINALUNA. Sept. IL, 1898.
Hon. S. B. Dole, Kohala, Hawaii
DEAR SIR: 1t is with no common
degree of interest that / have looked
toward the possible reorganization OF
the Board of Education; and now that
there seems to be pause in the mat
ter, l have resolved to place before
you some considerations which may
possibly have some bearing upon the
selection of members. i do not know
how much you are harrassed in your
retreat by public affairs or by incon-
siderate correspondents like myself.
But if you have more than you feel
you ought to bear, it is comparatively
easy to get rid of letter.
In the first place, it should be under
stood that some kind of order has been
brought out of the chaos into which
the schools were at one time thrown.
School buildings have been construct
ed and repaired; children have been
brought into the schools; teachers
have been compelled where compul-
sion was necessary to attend reason
ably to business; some of the very
poorest teachers have been discharged
and those of the grade next higher
have been given some systematic
help to do better work. In all this /
see a great reform accomplished; but
l also see a greater and more difficult
reform vet to be accomplished. There
ought to be reform in the conduct of
schoolroom work so radical as to
amount to a conversion OF the schools.
The evident purpose TO tit the chill
dren out with certain amount OF
valuable information should give way
TO the purpose to develop their minds
and build up in them right characters.
1t is not the highest purpose Of our
schools to fit pupils with competent
knowledge of the English language.
Granted that English is more impor-
tant than any other branch, the
human mind and soul are vastly more
important still. This change Of con-
ception of the province Of the school
will work radical change in all its
methods. For the accomplishment OF
the new purpose it will be seen to be
less important how much q child
learns than how he learns 1t. His
active and not his receptive powers
should be the center Of the teachers
attention and efforts. Self-activity is
the key of all education with this
purpose in view, as the human powers
grow only through exercise. And it
will involve change in the course Of
study, as we'll as in the methods of
teaching. The active powers Of the
child will be exercised more on the
literally tangible. Things will be
studied much more than at present.
But it would involve the greatest
change of all in the teaching force
itself. The force needs TO advance
all along the line. AS yet no seri-
Ous effort has been made to do more
than bring up the stragglers. What
we need is a decided advance on the
part of the force as a whole. OF course
this does not imply belief that we
have no good teachers. The contrary
is the fact. But as a whole the teach
ing force is not what it ought to be,
and the best of teachers have abund-
ant room for improvement. AS to the
details of a plan TO make these i'm
provements, it is perhaps not neces-
sary to say anything at present. But
finally, a wedding out of the force on
moral distinctions ought to be made.
l have only once visited school out.
side of Lahaina within a year, and
then found the principal off on a
three-day drunk. Such things must
work untold harm to children-and
parents as well-if not promptly
frowned down by the Board.
| hope we shall have a Board who
will see the necessity for these
changes, and have the courage to un-
dertake them and the perseverance tC
carry them through, in spite of the
numerous real and imaginary Difficult
ties in the way. This is no time fol
keeping things running in about the
same old way, but rare opportunity
for radical improvements. Is it posi-
BILE to find men Tor wOmen) equal tC
the occasion? Enough of that.
Lahainaluna prospects seem re-
markably good.
Yours respectfully,
HENRY 5. TOWNSEND.