The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-05-24
MEETING OF THEIR UNION

In the Union school at a. m. on
/ Friday, 18th. May, the Hilo Teachers
Union held their twenty meet
| ing there being present thirty teach
| ers and a number of visitors. The eX-
ercises were opened with chorus by
Miss Vests pupils Mr. Desha led in
prayer.
Mr.. Ray, the president, made few
we'll chosen and apt remarks concern
ing plant work in schools. One who
makes two blades of grass grow where
but one grew before or one who
teaches how to do it is a public bene-
factor School grounds are too often
dreary and dismal for which there is
no excuse especially in Hawaii. For
eign specimens are not so interesting
as home plants. The practical study
up with the study of Geography. The
experimental community garden could
be of great service as nine-tenthS OF
the pupils become engaged in agricul-
to honor work and while engaging IL
it, to cultivate the aesthetic side of
their nature.
I Miss Thurston reviewed the article
in Appleton's Popular Science Monthly
for Oct. 1898 entitled Young Greek
Boys and Old Greek Schools. Many of
the same difficulties with which we
struggle to-day were vexed questions
then. Physical culture was an inn
portant factor in boys training.
His moral nature was inosG sacredly
directed by good literature and COM
partnership. The memory was stron-
ger, the enervation of which in mod
ern times is attributed to the printing
press.
Mrs. r. Lyman read the ancient le-
lgend of KapOi'S rescue from his enc
mics by the Owls which had been
brought together from the different
Islands by one which he had befriend-
red by returning her eggs. Following
this Miss COans paper on the use Of
myths in teaching Hawaiian Geogra-
ply was read by Miss Severance. 1t
pointed out how the story could be
made use Of in evolving the manners
and customs of the ancient people as
well as much history and geography
pertaining to the whole group.
Miss Gertrude Mason recited THE
Cunning Little Thing by Eugene
Field.
was the subject Miss Dillon spoke on.
Many little tots enter school entirely
ignorant of English. With them it is
difficult to cover the first years work.
Still it is very improper to rush them
through it. Let them at first find
their own amusement. Use every OPP
pOrtunity to speak to them and every
device to have them understand
With small sticks they can outline
patterns. Drawing, measuring, count
ing will come in here as we'll as
making numbers. Dictation work
teaches attention. Leaves, figures, ETC.,
may NC III avn oil Di1ChDodiu anu
traced over with colored chalk or on
the desk and covered with coffee or
split peas. Encourage talk about all
that is done. Pictures should be care
fully selected, bottles being tabu. Lit
tie ones learn much from older pupils
by listening to them. Use interest
instead of fighting against it.
A paper on Silk Industry was pre-
pared by Mr.. Malterre giving a very
clear and comprehensive idea of the
processes followed by silk growers as
we'll as the history of the silk worm
in its different stages of development
from the egg to the cocoon. An esti-
mate was made of the cost of produc
ing cocoons which showed that two
adults can manage cocoons enough
to yield an annual income Of 1882.
How many Portuguese, Japanese or
Hawaiians who are not strong enough
to work in the cane fields can do bet
ter at any other work." Some large
families among the Portuguese could
produce twice that amount.
The next meeting will be held on
18th September. Mrs. Kelsey, Miss
Hart and Mr.. Beers comprising the
committee. NJ. A. E.