The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-03-12

his knOwIe ledge OF BOOKS IniS As true,
but it is not matter OF Legislation.
Ii rests in the teacher. Every teacher
should realize that the sequence OF
all education is true manhood and
womanhood. The 'ithree-day-drunk"
man should be summarily discharged.
have no doubt but th2re are many
teachers on these islands who should
not hold their positions, but the dlfii-
Guilty is to find them out.
We have only one Inspector-G GEN.
eral, whose duty is TO visit all
the schools twice in each year, but IL
he gets to them all once it Is as much
as any one man ought to undertake.
He does not have the time and cannot
tell all the evils. What we need Is a
superintendent for each island; the
Inspector General to hold his Office
and have the same duties as the state
superintendents i'm the United States;
the island superintendent to do the
same as the county superintendents.
This would not entail any more ex-
pense, for by this system we would
not need any school agents. The
island superintendents could do all or
the agents duties while visiting the
schools. The agents have nothing to
do with the educational work or the
schools, being merely trustees OF prop
work in an educational line, and by
couferring with the Inspector General
obtain a more systematic form or
teaching and eradicate many of the
existing evils.
In regard to the Board of Education,
/ will say the present Board Is made
up of good men as far as know, men
who would give it strength by their
standing, but L think it would be wise
tn hoy 40
selected from the best and most ex-
perienced teachers on the islands.
Such members would understand
what is needed in educational work.
In regard to text books. believe
we could compile and publish our own
text books and sell them to the pupils
at much lower rates than they are
now sold for. We have enough ability
among our teachers to get up good
series of books adapted to the wants
of the children here. The books pub
lished in the United States are not
adapted to our needs. The books pub
lished in the United States pre-
suppose some knowledge of English.
We should compile q set Of books
keeping the fact always in mind we
are giving the child new language.
L do not believe in maintaining the
Hawaiian native schools any longer.
they are dead letter--a thing OF the
past. The English language is what
most of the people wish their children
taught.
L believe that every teacher on these
islands who is teaching and does not
have certificate should be compelled
to pass an examination. There are q
number of teachers teaching without
any certificate, and some of them are
In regard to teachers salaries, do
not think this is matter for legisla-
tion. The regulation of salaries should
be between the Board of Education
and the teachers, between the EN-
ployer and the employed.
In the United States there is no set
standard for teachers salaries. They
may pay teacher 500 a month the
first year, and il he proves an efficient
teacher, $125 month the next year
in order to retain him. [ think it
should be the same here. Ii teacher
proves to be good he should be paid
accordingly, if poor he don't deserve
as much. 1t is matter that depends
upon the quality of work done. A
fair salary with the prospects of an
increase is a great incentive for good
work. L think the teachers ought to
be encouraged. They are doing a
noble work.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
NORMAN L. MALCOLM.