The Hawaiian gazette., 1897-02-12

enough 10 accommodate all corners is
some glory in itself for this little eoun-
try. 1t is doubtful if the public schools
of the United States, even, though
their praise is in all ends of the earth
are doing more effective work today
than the schools OF Hawaii, private as
well as public, in refining out the pure
gold of humanity from the crudest of
raw materials.
The Hawaiian public school system
is essentially American. 1t employs
American text books almost exclusive
ly, which, of course, include for the
higher grades the cream of English
classics, the only exceptions being
Hawaiian geography and history. More
than one-third of the teachers in all
schools, public and independent, are
American. 1t is no slight testimony
to the efficiency of the system that
Hawaiian and part Hawaiian teachers
come next in number to American.
They are but a little under one-third
of the total teaching staff. This is a
happy result of the policy of training
teachers at home, as these are ac-
quainted from the first with the pc
euliar difficulties of conducting a
school of mixed races. Within the
past few years there has been estab-
lished a normal school with a prac-
tise school attached, from which a
constant supply of scientifically trained
teachers is assured which, it is hoped,
will soon overtake the demand. An
admirable feature of the system is the
virtually permanent tenure of the
teachers Office. Teachers are employ
ed during the year. Schools are in
session, even in the remote country
districts, for forty weeks of each year.
Teachers once employed remain in the
force till they resign or are removed
for cause. Removals are rare. With
in few years past a splendid esprit
de corps has developed among the
teachers. They have formed associa-
tions in the different islands for mutual
! improvement in the profession, and
hold a national summer school with
the same object each year in Homo
lulu.
By an Act of last Legislature the
! school system has been raised in exc.
cutive control from the rank of a
bureau to that of department of the
| Government The Minister of Foreign
Affairs is also Minister of Education
and the president ex officio of board
of six commissioners, of whom three
may be and at present are ladies
Systematic inspection is maintained
through an Inspector General and one
Deputy; the present incumbents hav,
ing had long experience in the teach.
ing service of the islands. The Con,
stitution of the Republic of Hawai-
prohibits any aid from the public treas
ury to sectarian schools-another poin
of contact with the American schoo
system. Formerly it was a regular
practise of succeeding Legislatures Il
pass grants of money to schools under
the control of different religions demo
limitations. There are several fine in
situations, under both Protestant ant
Catholic direction, established in the
group. Instead of becoming weaker
from the withdrawal of public aid. thu
Independent schools will be shown il
the forthcoming report to have an in
crease of attendance proportionate tt
that of the Government schools. An
other thing to be mentioned, before
closing this review of the educationa
system, is that manual training ha!
been introduced wherever practicable
On the whole, Hawaii may be prouC
of her school system. 1t will be no
the least valuable part of the estat,
that she brings into the coming uniol
with fair Columbia.