Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1898-01-21
Mr.. BOWEN'S BOMBSHELL
Shakes Up the Board Of Education on
Free Schools.
Commissioner Smith faVOrS Free Schools When
Financial Conditions Improw-Free
Scholarships on Merit.

five members Of the Board of Ed
ucation were present yesterday
when Commissioners Bowen threw
n regular bombshell into the edu-
cational camp by Introducing u
resolution that all schools in the
Glands he free. "A il WAS, only
Minister Cooper and Commission
era Bowen and Smlth placed
| Themselves on record, while Pro-
fee sOr Alexander aud MrI, oil
. nugham were non -commIttal
The matter came up on a state
ment Of Minister Cooper to the
Board as to his views on free
scholar ships. Applications for
these were continually being
brought up Ivy worthy but tenn
p1rarily needy people. There WAS
now an application on behalf of
four children from one family
alone. He would recommen that
he question of these scholarships
ne settled once for all. For this
purpose he would advocate that
all free scholarships now
held terminate with the epd of the
present term. That hereafter the
department limit these .cholar
ships to 80, 10 to the Kaakopua
school and 20 to the High School.
these to be open to competition
by the deserving children of de-
serving parents. There were 36
of these free scholarships now in
exi,tenc and he felt he WAS not
far wrong in saying that some of
them were held by children
whose parents were able to pay
the regular fees. He would also
recommend for many reasons
that the present system of select
schools be retained. He believed
it was best suited for til. mis-
cellaneous population of the city
and the existing financial aud
social conditions of the country.
He was in hopes, however, that
the time would soon come when
all schools could be free.
Mr.. powerfully not con-
mence now, Mr.. Minister? | be
lieve in free schools all through
from top to bottom, and | will
now move-whether my motion is
seconded on not does not matt. r-
| now move that it be the recon
men 1ation Of this Department TO
the Legislature that all schools in
the Republic be free, the High
school, Hilo select school and the
Kohala school, | except none.
Mr.. SMITH won't second the
motion at the present time because
| believe the idea is not practi-
cable under present conditions,
hut ] Am decidedly in favor OF
free schools.
Minister Cooper believe that
the Government should at least
offer advantages at least equal to
those obtained in any private
school. To make every school
free would, / fear, tend to over
education. At present | AN in
favor of small tuition fee for ad-
vsnced education.
Professor Alexander-The Fort
street school was originally start
ed as an English school.
Minister Cooper-What do we
gain by free schools ?
Mr. Bowen-We thoroughly
regulate the grades according TO
the talents of the scholars anu W.
demonstrate to the world that the
Republic of Hawaii is not in the
business of maintaining select
schools.
Minister Cooper-Without tax
ing into effect present conditions!
Mr.. Smith-That is the only
thug that keeps me from second
ing the motion.
Mr.. Bowen-Well, it is appar-
ent that am to have no second to
my motion, so l withdraw it. The
next thing to do is TO make these
scholarships a matter of merit, bu,
| do think it is hardship on PEG
pie who can't send their children
t. school for want of 5O-cen'
piece.
Mr.. Townsend - Th",e are
Others. There are today in this
city 1913 children without n school
for want of proper accommoda
ton.
Minister Cooper-That is not
all, there are l400 all told in thu