The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-02-02
TALKED SCHOOL AFFAIRS
MEETING or HONOLULU, TEACH
Frs ASSOCIATION.
There Was a large Attendance and
Some Interesting Speeches-Inspect-
or Townsend Gives His Views.

The meeting of the Honolulu Teach
ers' Association in the High School
building last evening was attended by
over hundred teachers. Deputy In
spector General John f. Scott, who is
president of the association, presided
throughout the evening.
Inspector General II. S. Townsend
took the platform at the opening of
the meeting. He frankly stated that
the teacher labors under greater diff
culties in Hawaii than those met with
by the teacher in any other land in
Christendom. This was due because
the teachers work was more than
merely conveying certain amount of
information; it is the development of
moral character. The speaker also
stated that the school was only
factor in the product of character. En-
vironment, society, and the home all
exert their influences. But in this land
the school can expect little help from
any of these sources. In Hawaii there
was an abnormal percentage of the
lower elements in Society This is
against the development of high and
moral character. And the home is
not a strong coadipstor in the work
of bringing out all the potential good
in children.
Yet as difficult as the work is, Mr..
Townsend stated to the teachers that
theory were to build up "a noble civil
zation here in the Pacific, where the
East and West meet.
Miss Duncan gave an interesting and
instructing talk on the methods that
should be employed in the teaching
of Hawaiian children and foreign
children in native schools.
Professor NJ. NJ. Scott, principal of
the High school, spoke of a growing
illiteracy among the newspapers. Even
editorial writings are imperfect in the
language.
Professor Hosmer, of Oahu college,
was then called upon. He gave the
teachers brief talk. which contained
an abundance of good common-sense:
He said in part:
The question, what is the best edu-
cation, is an old one, but it is always
new, and of living interest to each
new generation. The young we have
always with us, and ! do not know of
any higher calling than that of the
teacher. There is no more useful pro-
fession-when we consider the profess
sions here in this community-of the
clergy, the medical profession, the
legal profession, and the journalist as
deserving of honor and respect as they
are. l know of none more deserving of
respect or honor, none more faithful,
energetic or efficient than the teachers
of the public schools in Honolulu.
I'm the dark days of the German
Empire, when Prussia was overrun by
the troops of Napoleon L, old Baron
Won Stein said to the King: Give me
the boys and will give you back your
empire;" and it is the Prussian school
system that has given Germany its
high position among the nations of
Europe.
And we say: Give us the youth of
Hawaii and the problems of social and
political life will be rightly solved
Our young people must be taught in
telligence and virtue, to have the pow
err of self-control, and to be loyal sup
porters of good government. They
must enter upon their career as citi-
zens with an adequate knowledge of
their duties and responsibilities. Then
will the safety of free institutions be
assured and government of and for
and by the people will have an abid-
ing place in Hawaii nei."
Professor Edgar Wood, Professor j.
l.. Dumas and Professor Woodward
each had something interesting to say
on psychology.
JAWS OF a PRINCE.
The KniSer'S cOuSin the Crown