The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-06-28
THE KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS.

In another column is published DR..
MaxweITs recent letter to the Principal
of the Kamehameha Schools, in reply
to some requests for suggestions re
garding the new departure" in in
struction.
This new departure is an effort by
the trustees of the schools to make
the students successful agriculturists
and horticulturists, because in those
directions lie the best hope of main
tanning and even restoring the native
Hawaiian race. In the mechanical
and in many other of the industries,
the natives are brought at once into
competition with the skilled men of
other races, who gradually drive them
to the wall. But if the native is edu-
Gated in the study of the soil, and its
products, and is, moreover, trained
thoroughly in the practical treatment
of it, he will. or should be, able to
maintain himself against all competi-
ton. so far or his own living is con-
cerned.
DR.. Maxwell states that which cam
not be stated too often that the pros
perity Of this community is entirely
dependent upon agriculture For that
reason, education in the best methods
of producing from the soil is of the
first Importance.
The main objects of these schools
should be, as DR.. Maxwell says, to
furnish the graduates with tools to
work with. He does not mean the
"tools" which the preceding genera
ton, in all parts of the civilized world
thought quite sufficient, that is, a
common school or a classical educa-
ton. Such tools were quite like the
hoe used by the Southern darby for
all purposes. 1t produced only poor
crops But he means that special
knowledge and training which enables
the student or the graduate with the
average capital of poor man,
to make his living on the soil
without any delay on embarrassment
from ignorance. The graduates Of
these schools have no cash capital be-
hind them, and the tools which they
possess should be those which will
bring the very quickest returns. The
fight for existence begins at the mo-
ment of graduation.
This new departure" recognized
the fact that the large majority in
every community need first and above
all things, a knowledge of, and prac-
tice, in the ways of improving physi-
cal condition; that learning is of little
use to the hungry and the discomfort
ed; that for the mass of human beings
the soil furnishes alone the means Of |
subsistence, and that the higher edu-
cation, even the classics. is largely |
valueIess; unles there is with it a |
special education.
This letter contains suggestions of a
general nature, which if followed, will |
enable the students to fairly meet any |
in certain kinds Of agri-
cultural and horticultural work.
These schools are primarily intend
ed for the instruction of native Ha-
waiians The theory on which they
should be conducted, must be, it may
be fairly helped, to give the graduates
special tools for working on those lines
where there is the least fiction with the
energy, the intelligence and the ag-
of other races. The soil
furnishes the opportunity, and perhaps
the only opportunity.
Whether the natives, when furnish
ed with the tools of the best practical
raining, can hold their own. even
when the competition is the least is
after all, a question of sand" Has
The native enough of it to keep his
place and improve his condition.
The work, under the new depart
ire" of these schools viii be one Of the
cry deepest interest to those who still
JeI eve that the native race may be re
tored