The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1896-10-02
ooRREspoNDENoE.

The name ofthe rriter, not necessarily for pub
location, bit as a guarantee of good tddh)
Ed. The INDEPENDENT
The Progressive Educator has
been regularly sent to different
teachers, ever since its birth, with
out their request or subscribing for
it, and the last number seems to
assume the form OF an obligation
laid upon the teachers to accept it
as essential to their interests despite
themselves. 1t lays down theories
and regulations for us to follow
with covert hints for us to accept
them or look out for what may come.
That Summer Schools and Teach
ers' Associations are very good
things, we admit, but that the
Inspector General has a right to
drive us all into attending them and
join their ranks is question which
is now agitating the hearts OF many
OF the teachers.
In the first place, with all due re-
spect for the Inspector. General and
his CO workers, we would ask, have
they attained the highest degrees
and honors themselves from the
universities or other standard in
situations OF learning, that they
should now assume the sole control
OF large staff OF teachers who, in
coming to these islands have brought
with them high statistics from dis
tinguished educational institutions
elsewhere, or who have worked hard
and obtained the best certificates
that the Hawaiian Islands can be-
stow upon them2 Do not antece-
dents OF such teachers testify to
their being persons of culture, able
to chose their own course of self
improvement and to chose their own
books from whom they may prefer,
and capable of doing good, faithful
work in the schools where hitherto
no complaints have been made
against them2 And as such are they
not entitled to the respect and con-
sideration of the Inspector General
and other esteemed members of The
Board Of Education?
The certificates that teachers have
held SO far have been as good to
them as lawyers and doctors Ger.
tifcates are to them, but ia the new
order Of things what are the
prospects that await the teachers
here2 Servile adherence to en-
croachments made upon them in
their spare time, the ignoring Of all
their honorable prerogatives, and
ranking them among the novices OF
the Normal and Summer Schools
And as bait held out to entice
them forth into this order OF things
they have Uague promise of "bettel
pay" which mercenary alluremeni
could never make up for exhausted
strength and wits which would be
the sure result eventually of over.
taxation of the mental and physica
. powersl And in order to Fill the
requirements they would be obliged
to lay aside many side duties, sucl
as preparing lessons for their pupils
besides neglecting many necessary
personal duties!
1t has long been whispered an(
vaguely rumored that these energetic
educators are endeavoring to roo
out several teachers of the presen
staff to give place to others OF thei
choice who are waiting and hoping
to fill the vacancies when made, i
so, let them come out bravely lik,
men with what they are aiming at
and give the poor, marked teacher
time to prepare for what the,
should expect. The plain, stern hutj
will always be preferable to swort
constantly suspended over thei
heads. A TEACHER