The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-12-29
A SCHOOL CITY
Suggestion to Honolulu
Teachers.
A Local Educator Discusses a Subject
Which is Getting Much At
tentiQn Elsewhere.

Editor Observation-Disclosures this title
the American number of the American
Monthly Review of Reviews contain
an article by Albert Shaw, the Editor.
which is worthy of the attention of
Honolulu teachers. The "Schooi City
is an attempt to introduce some meas
ure of elf-government into the public
schools. The idea was first suggested
by Mr.. Wilson l.. Gill Of lew YORK..
He looks upon the schooI as a com
munity, and proposes that this com
munity shall organize Itself upon self
government principles, taking as it's
model city government, as being the
one with which the children are most
familiar. OF course all the depart
mentS of a city are not needed, but in
its main outlines a city government
can easily be adopted
The natural starting point is the
election, or perhaps the nominating
convention. The mayor may be chosen
by the whole school following the
usual electoral method OF the city in
which the school is located. Each
ed as a separate ward entlCled to 3 GER
tain amount Of representation On the
schools Common Council or Board of
Aldermen. This Council meets at stat
ed times and makes rules and laws
The enforcement of these laws re-
quireS the appointment Of q police force
and also the election of judges before
whom policemen may bring the offend
ing citizens whom they arrest.
1t is not expected that the establish
ment of a school city in a school will
do away with the functions OF school
boards or teachers; but il will greatly
modify the school On its governmental
side. Every teacher finds it difficult to
array public sentiment on the side of
authority. The finest boys in school
see all sorts Of VIOLATIONS OF school
rules going on, but feel it is not their
business 10 interfere, since they have
nothing 10 do with the government.
They cannot report wrong doing to
the teacher for that will put lem in
the position of spies upon their school
fellows. The situation is entirely
changed, however, when self-govern-
ment is introduced Law being self
imposed must be maintained by the
united efforts of all. Such offenses as
profanity, the use of improper Ian
guage on the play ground, and cheat
ing in examinations are practical y be-
yond the teachers power. They can
be stopped only by the student body.
The ultimate object Of the school
city, however, is to prepare the pupils
for citizenship. \ good citizen is
man not only of political ideals, but
one who feels his personal response
bility in seeing good government estab-
lished, and who has, besides, some
practical acquaintance with the more
important agencies and mechanism
for carrying on government. The pres
ent system Of authority in schools is
a kind of absolute despotism. Even if
the teacher be a beneficent autOcrat,
children compelled to yield unquestiOn-
ed obedience TO laws in whose making
they have had no voice. must always
remain babes or else take the attitude
of the ignorant agitatOr who is Away
"agin the government" What can bet
ter prepare the young to take their
place in q self-goVerning cOmmunit
than the practice of self-government
from the earliest possible age?
The School is more than an idea It
is a plan now being successfully car
ried out in many of the schools of the
United States. The HolingsWorth
School, one of the public schools in
Philadelphia, may be taken as an ex-
ample. The pupils of this school are
of the grammar and primary grades.
Girls have the same rights as boys in
the government. The officers consist
of a mayor, twelve councilmen, three
Judges. one chief Of police, six police
men. one director of public safety anu
one of public health. The mayor,
councilmen and judges remain In office
80. a school term. Policemen are elect
ed every two weeks. Among the city
ordinances are laws forbidding profan-
inv. he use of bad words, writing on
walls. and the throwing of paper or
fruit SKINS about. Citizens must be
clean. No fighting is allowed. boy
who has 7 grievance may take his case
before a magistrate. The system was
given a severe test when several OF the
boys including three prominent mem
beers of the government were found
snow-balling a little Italian boy. Inc
teacher was puzzled at first TO know
what to do out HnalIy drought the oAA
clal offenders before the school and
told them they might choose their own
punishment.
After a pause the chairman of the
committee on public safety, with down
cast eyes said he thought he ought TO
be deposed. The other two othcers
chose the same punishment the very
hardest probably they could have Sc
lected for themselves. The principal
touched by the manly attitude the boys
had taken desired to have them re-
elected but the school desired diner
emily, evidently thinking their conduct
deserved full punishment.
In the Hyde Park School, Chicago
made up of old boys, where there
is no particular fascination in the idea
OF being a policeman, instead OF po-
lice force the school has department
of public order. Pres. Z. Benjamin
Andrews, Superintendent, Ct Chicago's
schools says: under the surveillance
OF careful principals the pupil gov
eminent plan works extremely well:
In any hands whatever. 1t works well
? &c