The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-10-31

of interest. Earth forms and materials 1
perhaps must come a little later but
interest In them Is not hard TO :ouse |
These are the things which the child |
must study and viii study. with or
without guidance. In order that he may
become more at home In the world OF
nature. They are not just SO many
pegs on which to hang lessons In Eng
lish. etc. but the subject matter, the
substance. Of education. This IL not
meant as slur upon English and its
Importance. IL viii be better taught
IL kept I'm Its place as indicated above
In order that our pupils may be at
home In the world Of man. they are
taught " the work around them, the
blacksmith. the carpenter. the planter,
the housekseper. the policeman ard the
judsc btirg ga their own tim subjects
% Instruction. All these furnish occa-
stons Tor expression IA various man
ners. and for lessons IN k.ngiish. But
let u not be supposed that this Is their
Justification as subjects ~ instruction.
The children are to b. E!ade mo-e at
home In the world OF man.
But man IL something than n physical
being and n worker. We study him at
hts best when we study his ideas and
Ideals In the field OF literature. Child
literature is receiving more recognition
now than ever before. IL we begin at
the proper place In the scale of liter
airy character there need be no fear
that any pupil will be received into the
school too young for study in this line.
and the difficulty OF language need not
be feared for any great length OF time.
English literature begins with This
little pig" and ends with Shakespeare
Within these limits there Is matter
suitable to all degrees OF advancement.
Il The classic stories so much used in
the best schools where English is the
vernacular OF the pupils are not avail
able TO most OF our primary teachers
at the beginning OF the first year. but
there Is an abundance OF simpler mat
ter upon which to draw. Wonderful
things have been accomplished In this
line In many OF our schools. an1 the
doubter need not come to Honolulu &c
verify these statements. IL IL easy &c
see that this work furnishes abundance
OF reading matter and OF incentive &c
teach and learn reading. ETC., but
lagain this does not justify the use OF
literature In the primary school. From
! the first IL In not SIMPLY a question OF
getting the pupil TO read. but OF wha
! they are to read This literature Is q
assist to make the pupils at home IN
. the world OF man. or its highest mis-
, sion will not be accomplished. Th'
laelection Of literature best suited to tn
/ needs II a class is n delicate and din
? cult task. not TO be undertaken care
7 lesSly. Inc very aDiilty 10 reah -
/ curse to many n man.
Finally. n the pupil is to be at hom
I In the world OF man. he must be al
! active factor In that home. Childrei
: love TO learn to make things. The.
make many things merely as a mean
y OF expression. but they are especiall.
9 pleased 20 make something useful. Co
] operate With nature. This IL an I'm
n portant part OF true pedagogics. In
: number Of schools of Hawaii, industrial
a training begins with the first year o
2 school life and II carried on through
: the whole course. This IL good. Blu
n ~ In TO be borne In mind that II IN no
o simply matter of getting the pupil
10 make something. but OF increasin
q their usefulness. IL II well To max
. a hala braid. for instance. " that hal
q braid In to be useful when made. ~
: school work IL TO be undertaken mere
Ily for the sake OF keeping children EN-
n pioyed. There should be a deeper an
J. more serious purpose.
% This article In headed Beginnings
J. for two reasons: first. II deals wit
educational beginnings with referenc
q to the Individual child: second. IL dea
p with an educational movement whic
"A is believed to be only In Its first star
~ Of development.