The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-03-13

"The new Board mas not DeeIl III
long enough to make many I'M
provements yet, said w. r. Castle
the President of the Board of Edu-
cation, last evening, "but we have
agreed that the two requisites of
teacher must be, first, good char
acter, and second, teaching ability,
and the Board is a unit in the
determination to produce these
conditions in the schools of the
country if they do not already ex-
list.
"The letters that were published
in the ADVERTISER yesterday were
rather severe on the former Board.
1t was composed of good men, and
the probability is that the school
system had simply got into
groove and stayed there.
''The new Board is very likely to
give the kindergarten system a
great deal of attention in regard to
it's becoming a part of the system
of public schools. We are most
fortunate in having practical edu
Gators of the ability of Prof. Scott
and Miss Dodge on the Board.
s'The new plank in the platform
of the American Union party re-
ferring to a university education
for the youth of the islands, sug-
gests a plan that [ have long been
in favor of. L have believed for
many years that we should have
something of the kind and build
up to it, but L doubt if we have
arrived at the time yet. Those
who desire the highest education
are not likely to stay here steadily.
They are almost certain to 60 to
foreign countries, where they can
have the benefit of a larger life.
These influences are good for them
and increase the polish Of their
education.
"For many years the Board of
Education has imported all the
books used in the Government
schools, as well as the other school
supplies, as private dealers would
not or could not supply the de-
mand. The Board thinks the time
has come for this matter to be put
into the hands of those merchants,
and thereby rid the Government
of an expensive and cumbersome
department that really belongs to
the mercantile business of the
country. Several book dealers
have been asked TO look at the
stock at the Government Building,
with the view of their buying it.
If they would do this and agree to
keep their stock up, 1T would be a
great relief to the Board.
zone of the suggestions made In
one of the letters is that we should
publish our own text books.
doubt if this is practicable, as the
cost would be much greater. In
the United States these books are
published by the million, and can
be printed at a much less cost than
here, where only few thousand
would be required.
SIN a short time the Board will
try to come to some definite plan
in regard to private schools, and
; the assistance they are to receive
t from the Government. The policy
, to be pursued will be, briefly, that
no public assistance should be
: given to private schools where the
1 Government is able to do and does
the same work. In regard to the
, class of schools over which the
| Board has no authority whatever
D such as boys boarding schools
d. and girls seminaries, limited as
= sistance will be granted when the
+. school recognizes and accepts thu
. principle that the grant of publi
aid must be accompanied by the
power of visitation of the Board
: That power is misunderstood by
d many. 1t is something like tina
r, of the railroad commission il
u u Massachusetts,, which inspects tn
:: accounts of the railroads am
1t makes recommendations which ar
/ !. so cogent and plausible that the.
I are always followed. Such
Of power, if made an active part {
D. the educational system, is yer
n valuable. The effect of this powe
, in schools is to keep up the stand
or ard of education, to prevent OF
preston, to broaden the lines I
education rather than to keep thel
within narrow limits.
r with regard to the question
ii