The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-06-28
1T IS ENDORSED
DR.. Walter Maxwell On KamGha-
m8la'S New Plan.
THERE SHOULD Be SYSTEM
Great Benefits VIII Accrue-Lect-
ures and Experiments.
Field Work.
THERE SHOULD Be SYSTEM
Honolulu, June %, '9S.
Principal, Kamehameha

! To the Principal, Kamehameh;
Schools.
Dear Sir;-I received your letter il
which you speak of the new depart
ure'' determined upon by the Director
ate of your Institution, and in con
! nection with which you ask my views
and any possible suggestions.
! This action Of the Board Of Trustees
| embOdies the wisest economic conclu-
! siOns that I can conceive of. When
| we consider that, at present, the only
| industries of these islands are agri-
cultural, and that any industry of a
manufacturing character. that may
come with time, must find its fOunda-
ton in agriculture, then any step TAX
en- whose purpose is to place before
the people a broader comprehension
Of the possibilities, and to equip the
native sons of the islands to reach the
fullest use of these possibilities
should appeal directly to every one
To me it appears extraordinary that
it can drop out of remembrance for
one moment, the immediate depend
ence upon agriculture of all who are
looking for a living in this country.
The inclusion of the lawyer, the doc
tor, and the store keeper, in this de-
pendence is too palpable to be over
looked.
In reply to certain of your more
specific questions, l must say that it
is not possible for me to speak in any
great detail since I am not acquaint-
ed with the run Of the ages, and with
the general capacity, and, it may be,
the peculiar nature of the capacity of
your pupils. A few words may be said
however which apply to all move
ments of the nature of your present
undertaking.
In the first place, it is to be under
stood that this founding of a depart
ment of agricultural teaching has
practical and very specific purpose,
which is no less than an organized
plan to prepare young men to handle
the conditions in which they are
placed, and to get a living in the face
of a competition that exists, and which
will increase upon them. There is
nothing decorative intended in your
scheme, nor merely an extended effort
to add to general knowledge. Your
object is to furnish your young men
with the tools by use of which, when
they go out into life, they viii be able
to stand up against the competition
reasonable success.
Coming to the matter Of the mode
and course of instruction, we may
bear in mind that the best ideas and
plans advanced by leading teachers
have been brought together in text
books, and are in general use in agri-
cultural colleges and schools. 1t is
possible that there are situations in
which the conditions, including the |
character of the students, are so differ |
7nt to the general rule, that mOditica- |
ions must be made to meet the special |
case. We must not lose hold Of the |
first principle however, that the in |
structiOn must be systematiZed; that |
he several branches must be brought |
-Ogether and presented in such a way |
hat each subject shall show the rela- |
ion it bears to other subjects, and the |
collective bearing of all the subjects |
lpOn the purpose of the instruction as |
I whole For example, knowledge |
IF the scientific principles which |
Inderlie the more progressive systems |
IF agriculture today require some |
of geology, chemistry, bot |
my, physiology, bacteriOlOgy, mechan- |
cs, etc. In teaching these several |
subjects, however, the student Of ag |
'icuIture need not be required to look |
1t each of these as the geOIogist, the |
chemist or the psychologist must do; |
Re must rather be directed to see the |
inks which hold the subjects tOgeth |
az. and which bind them into a sys-
EN- of knowledge that is to bear eco
lOmically upon his life work.
The necessity of system is urged for |
he reason that desultOry teaching, |
nd fr,1cr tc,1 I'm
where They do not place information |
n the light or form in which it can |
De justly cOmprehended, or put to eco |
lOmic use. Moreover, general or frag |
nentary teaching Injuries the instru |
nent-the mind. and it is an essential |
junction of instruction 10 train that |
instrument, that the young man may |
not only use to effect the knowledge !
be has obtained. but be able TO grasp |
The conditions into which he enters, |
and to conform his efforts to the ma |
-ure of the surroundings.
The carrying out of such a system |
Of instruction involves first the work |
Of the lecture room, and of the labor !
ltOries. Then follow in sequence. and |
more or less side by side, the expert |
nents and demonstrations of the field. |
Don't forget, however, that the verbal |
instruction must precede the demon |
stratiOn. Of course. the outdoor eX- |
)eriments may, and should be. made |
o bear on the special economic feat
Tres of the locality, whether these be |
production of daily foods, fruits. or !
plants, some Of whose ingredients may
inter into the arts and manufactures.
Medicine etc.
Make the instruction as personal as
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