The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-05-30
A HIGHER PLANE.

Now that we have had the fee sys-
tine abolished, our high school and
grammar grades should become more
stringent in their demands for scholar
ship. AS long as the fee system lasted
there was always a lurking desire that
the number of attendants in a room
should be large, so that the fees collect
ed in the room should be large That
this feeling was acknowledged is not
for a moment contended, but there are
many unacknowledged feelings which
go to make up the direct actions of
teachers, as we'll as of other portions of
mankind.
The wretched system had it's innu-
ence also upon the boards estimate or
teacher "She does well, and then
she always is prompt in collecting her
fees" has been a remark made more
than once about teachers in the pay
schools. The ability to collect appealed
to the commercial eXactitude of some
members, and some of the collecting
was done none too gently. A child IS
extremely sensitive. and is over sensl-
tive in money matters, and many a lit
tie heart has been bruised and panied
unnecessarily when through the care
lessness or inability of the parent TO
liquidate the claim, the child has had
to publicly state before the fellow pu-
pills, that the money was not forthcom-
ing. Many teachers are refined and gen.
tie. but not all teachers are. and many
a wound has been given. The rubs of
the world are hard enough, we should
keep them from the children as long as
possible.
But we stand upon very different
plan row. Money no longer cuts any
figure in our public school system,
thanks to the efforts of Minister Mott
Smith, and perhaps few others. The
two main things that higher education
now rests upon are ability and charac-
ter. This is perfectly justifiable posi-
ton. A line should be drawn there, and
should strictly be adhered to.
For admittance to the High school
there should be a regular written and
oral examination, held either once or
twice a year. What is required for such
examination should be thoroughly
known to the teachers OF all the schools
in the city, and upon the results of that
examination pupils should be admitted
TO or rejected from the High school,
There should be no smuggling boy or
girl in, because he or she is a nice
child, or because either of them belongs
to a nice family, or any nonsense of
that sort. If the child can pass the
examination, and if it produces proper
certificate of moral character and of
good behavior then that child is fit for
the High school. The examination
should be conducted by examiners to
whom it matters not d jot whether the
children pass IL or they do not. 1t
should be absolutely impartial Such
examiners could be obtained at a very
small expenditure of funds.
Think what immense strength this
would give to the High school, More
over during the career of child there,
great control could be had over it, by
insisting upon it's passing standard
at the end of each year If it failed, II
might be given another six months or
even year to reach the standard, and
upon the second failure it could be
dropped.
Away from here it is the great strug-
gle of pupils to keep from being condi-
toned and then dropped. Children
strive to keep in school, on their own
account Here it has been an effort on
the part of those interested in them, to
keep them in school. In the one case
self-confidence is bred, and the desire
to do well for a definite aim. In the
other it matters not, and they become
lax, for they expect to be hauled
through and to graduate some how.
Now is our opportunity to increase the
efficiency of our schools. The question
is will our commissioners seize the op-
portunity which has in a measure been
forced upon them?