The times., 1899-07-30
HAVAII'S SCHOOL SYSTEM
=
Good Work of the Department OF
Public Instruction.
A successfuI Emulation of American
Language Eliminated - frogress
Mnde-The Palace of Princess Ruth
Now an Institution of Learning.

Inc bureau CI EQuCdllOu NdS III us plS-
session considerable literature of an enter
tanning character bearing on education in
Hawaii. In 1913 a department of public
instruction was organized and placed in
charge of a minister of the crown, although
as early as ten or twelve years from the
advent Of the first missionaries in Ha-
wall, which was in 1890, schools had been
general throughout the country. In lS41
q school was established by the American
missionaries at Punahou, in the vicinity
Of Honolulu, which has developed into
what is now known as the Oahu College
a government reformatory school was
founded in 1865, and in the same year the
Legislative assembly created board OF
education and organized a public school
system, which was so well founded that
it has survived to the present time without
any radical changes.
By an act OF the legislature of 1856 the
school system of Hawaii, which Tor thirty
years has been a bureau of the govern
ment was put upon a frmer basis and
constituted an executive department, max
ing the minister of foreign affairs ex-of-
ficio minister of public instruction, presid-
ing over a board of six other commission
ers appointed by the President of the re-
public, and whose term of Office was TO be
three years, one-third of the board retir
ing every year. Two OF the commissioners
were to be women and all the commission
ers were TO serve without compensation.
The early public schools we're all taught
in the Hawaiian language and used Ha-
waiian textbooks. About the year 1850,
English schools were instituted by the gov
eminent TO meet the popular demand and
the growth Of the English speaking classes
of the islands. the tuition for which
small fee of IS a year for each pupil was
increased in number until 1855, when they
were made free schools by law. Since then
the schools conducted In the Hawaiian
language have rapidly given way to free
English-speaking schools, which latter
language by the school act of 1896, was
made the medium and basis of instruction
in all the schools. public and private, un-
ill now there exists only one public school
taught in the Hawaiian tongue, and this
school is upon the island of Niihua
Chinese residents maintain number of
Emall schools devoted to the teaching of
their own language, the instruction in
which is only permitted outside of govern
ment school hours Under the republic
education In Hawaii became universal.
compulsory, and free. The law requires
that every child between the ages of six
and fifteen years shall attend either pub
Tic or private school in which the Eng
Nsh language is the medium of instruction.
Attendance is enforced by means of "tru-
ant officers or school police, Of whom
there are between forty and fifty These
Officers visit the schools regularly, secure
the names Of absentees whom they look up.
as well as those children who are not
upon the school rolls, but whom they know
10 be Of school age.
The Hawaiian Republic took an advanced
position with regard to the entire separa-
tion OF church and state the constitution
forbi9ding any aid from the public treas
ury ITO sectarian,' UNCONVENTIONAL, or pri-
yate school" and by the school law OF 1895
no priest or minister of religion is eligible
TO Vii the Office of minister of public in
etruotion or to be member of the board
Of education. Clergymen may be teachers
or Instructors In government schools, but
no distinctively religious teaching is per-
mitted.
Under the republic the school system was
peculiarly American, and in the appoint
ment Of teachers race lines received very
little consideration, there being teachers
from all nationalities. with the possible
exception Of the Japanese During recent
years a normal school was established at
Honolulu. with practice school attach
ed Practical methods Of instruction and
teaching are given to those students and
successful teachers having a professional
training and a familiar acquaintance with
the peculiar conditions of the Hawaiian
school system are graduated. Teachers
examinations are held annually, and sue
cessful candidates are given certificates
based on the averages obtained, the time
for which they are good depending on the
class of the certificate, whether primary Oh
grammar.
Owing 10 the local conditions existing II
many of the out-of-town districts, where
there are no hotels or boarding houses, ant
in many instances no white families within
practical distance of the school, the Gov.
ernment has found 1t necessary 10 provid,
free cottages for the use OF teachers. TIL,
salaries Of the regular teachers are annual
payable monthly, with an average month";,
compensation of S63.1s for each teacher
The total number Of public schools, &C
cording 10 the last report was 132. hayini
O corps of 2sS teachers and an enrollmen
Of I0,5eS pupils, according to the report o
the minister OF public instruction for 1881
The average number of pupils for eac
teacher in the island is 35. The schools ar
in session for forty weeks. which is tw
months longer than the ordinary scho1
year In the United States.
The Honolulu High School was organize
p 1885. and occupies the handsome build
Dg, which was formerly the palace OF tn
Princess Ruth, sister OF Kamehameha L
and V. The school is said to be the prid
building and grounds, and the high char
acter Of the instruction given In it
Industrial and manual training has bee
partially provided for. The Hainalun
Seminary. on the Island OF Maui, founde
IN 1881. which exists now as governmer
school. furnishes instruction in agricultur
carpentry. printing, and mechanical draw
ing. The students raise most of their foo,
Boys 10 the reforma,ory now learn useil
trades.
Industrial and manual training is spt
cialiy with the private schools. Anon
these are the mission and private board
ing schools for Hawaiian girls, the Ksme
hsmeha schools for boys and girls, oah
College, ST. Louis College for boys. bt
sides Z number Of small schools supporte
by private enterprise, including sever
successful kindergartens.
The Kamehameha schools for Hawaiia
boys and girls were founded by the lat
Mrs. Bernice Pauahi Bishop. and ii
buildings are among the finest in the cour
try, Besides furnishing a good primar
and grammar school education the scho'
Is provided with commodious and vel
equipped workshops for carpentry, WOO
and metal working. as well for ii
training Of girls IN housekeeping an
modes OF living generally. There is al:
In connection with this school a normi
and training department.
The most advanced and comprehensi'
course of study is furnished by the oah
College situated IN the suburbs OF Hon;
lulu This well-developed and fourishir
institution hes grown out of sma
school founded By the American mission
1s41. X possesses q commodlous group
modern buildings snd extensive ground
end Furnishes what is virtually a hii
school course. ss also q thorough classic
course and preparatory department III