The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-08-03
HAWAII SCHOOL PROBLEM
II. $. TOWNsEND'S ADDRESS At
LOS ANGELES
states the Problem Clearly and Points
out the Direction Of Effort to Solve IT,.
Future Prospects.

The representatives Of Hawaii took
an important part i'm the National Edu-
cational Convention at Los Angeles, as
the press dispatches during the con-
vention showed. Among the addresses
reported i'm full in the Los Angeles pa
pers was that of Inspector General
Townsend on the Educational Problem
in Hawaii" An abstract of his address
is here given:
since every race has its own past,
present and future to consider, and
since individual peculiartes compli-
cate every educational problem, no such
problem can be simple. But when peo-
Piles of different races, different civiliza-
tons, different ideas and different
ideals become mingled, the problem be
comes especially complicated.
AT first glance it might seem to an
outside observer that in so small a
country as Hawaii, whatever the heter-
ogeneity of the adult population, the
children under the influence of homo
geneous environment, would readily
approach homogeneity. But, in spite of
appearanCe to the contrary, the enVir
onment of the children OF Hawaii is eX-
ceedingly diversified for it must not be
forgotten that environment is both ply
steal and spiritual, of things and of men
or that it is the spiritual element which
produces the quickest results. Race
differences are deep seated and not de-
pendent upon present environment.
"At every turn we of Hawaii ftnd
ourselves face to face with the race
problem For it is necessary that our
heterogeneous population be made COM
paratiVely homogeneous. 1t is hard for
those living in other parts of the coun-
try to appreciate the magnitude of this
part of our problem. The ends of the
in, low -Di a nd M
is predominant in numbers. Though
present indications are that the Asiatic
element barring immigration, will be
almost half of the generation next to
be born in Hawaii.
But quality as well as quantity must
be considered in discussing such race
problem. And there is a very ra1ical
difference in quality between the white.
theb rown and the yellow races. The
white race is prominent for active,
elf-assertiVe, strong individuality, 1t
is in this race that individualism is
found in its extreme form. On the
other hand. the Hawaiians are of the
extreme passive type, influenced some
what by their contact with the white
race.
Language has been considered sol
vent of racial ncongruities, and in this
there is a large element of truth. Those
who have a common language under
stand one another better than those
who have not And to know is to for
give as the proverb has it. To teach all
our people the English language and
thus make Anglo SaXOns of them would
indeed, be very simple solution of our
race problem, and it would have the
virtue of laying out very definitely the
work of our schools in such solution
although English education for Ha-
wall has everything in it's favor and is
an absolute necessity, it offers but
small part of the solution of this great
problem. POlynesianS and Asiatics can
not be made to think and feel as Anglo
SaXons by the simple process of teach
ing them the English language, or by
any other process which does not in
volve evolution through generations.
"The problem of school education in
Hawaii then, is to take a just part in
the development of this civilization so
necessary to the future prosperity and
happiness of the people. and to prepare
individuals for its duties and privileges.
THE problem of giving these elements
of our population common tongue has
been mentioned, and the absolute nee
essity of its solution has been recog-
nized already; but it requires a word
more lest it's magnitude be not fully
appreciated. According to our latest
census, that of 1896. but little if any over
) per cent of our school population are
schools of Hawaii there are children
who speak at home from two to seven
different languages, and yet none speak
English-the language of the schools.
Yet as a means of further education
common language is all important. This
is almost exclusively the work of the
school.
"Our school are in a special sense and
most emphatically social institutions.
The great art which our pupils of the
various races must learn, is the art of
living together in peace and harmony.
Their most important lessons are those
of mutual respect and forbearance.
There are few countries where the
foundation principles which underlie
social order, develop so plainly before
the very eyes of school children.
"Such are the chief peculiarities of
the educational problem in Hawaii. 1t
will be seen that the great difference
between it and the general educational
! problem, are of degree rather than of
kind An absolute solution of our prob
| lem is not to be hoped for until our
brethren of some other part of the
world shall have solved theirs. Yet un-
der our peculiar and great difficulties
the educational workers of Hawaii are
! taking up their work with such wis ION,
strength and courage, as the God Of
Peace has given them"