The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-08-12
SUMMER SCHOOL.

The summer school, which opens on
side of the teachers. There are a large
number of people here who take an in
terest in education besides those who
are actually in the profession. Many
of these are old teachers, who have re-
tired but who still keep up their inter-
est in the work and readily appreciate
or at times reprobate any innovations
that may be proposed.
The work at the summer school is al
ways stimulating, and the presence of
lecturers upon professional subjects.
from the mainland gives added vim and
zest to the subjects dealt with Even
though there must of necessity be
sameness of subjects there is always
variety in a different treatment, and no
one who is engaged in the profession
can attend these meetings without
gaining some good
one feature of this years summer
school is to be much commended. This
is the exhibit from the various schools
throughout the country. The exhibit
shows that the use of the needle and the
fingers is being taught in sewing, straw
plating, knife work and so forth. There
is no better line for our education than
this one of manual instruction. Though
what is being done now, is far behind
the ideal, it is a very true step in the
right direction. The tendency of edu-
cation has been more towards training
the memory than the whole brain, and
leaving the hands to take care of them
selves.
\ child when it leaves school should
have an equipment that is of value to
it, Every thing the child learns should
have a distinct object there should be
no desultory work. AS a fact, much of
the time a child spends at school is
wasted, and when one thinks how much
the young have to learn and unlearn
after they leave school, it is by no
means a good commentary upon our
modern civilization. Much of our So
called instruction is merely mental
gymnastics, and though such things
are not absolutely harmful, they are
really detrimental. The sooner much
of this is swept away the better
But one of the principal advantages
of the summer school is the mingling
together of teachers from the various
Islands. Many of these lead very iso-
lated lives, and it is to their great adj
vantage to meet their fellow teachers,
both socially and in debate. The teach
ing profession is, as a rule, a very mar
rowing one. 1t is unavoidable that it
should be so. A teacher to be success
full must be an autocrat. In his or her
little world each Yields absolute power,
and this reacts upon the character, and
makes it dogmatic. That this should
be so here, is not to be wondered at. Some
of those who are employed in the small
er villages hardly ever meet their men
tai equals. Be it man or woman that
lives in this way, and works earnestly
both in and out of school, such a life is
bound to have its deteriorating effect.
The summer school gives the oppor-
! tunity for meeting together and of rub
bling of the years accumulation of moss
and in this direction it's work is inval-
uHdple' II may, rum It's inherent Ma
ture, be somewhat pedantic, but it is
wonderfully humanizing as well, and il
is the human being, not the pedant,
which is the valuable part of the teach
err
The summer school opens under good
auspices, it will be attended by an eX-
ceptiOnally bright set of teachers and
it has the good wishes of all for its
success. Next to feeding the growing
child, the training of the youth is the
most important for the outset. The
Star wishes the promoters and those
who attend the meetings every success
The better and more thorough the work
is, the better and more thorough will
be the results among the children of the
future.