The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-10-27
.MODESTY
AIRED.
Sad Story Of Boys
And a Stern
Doctor.
MADE THEM TAKE
OFF THEIR SHIRTS
Voluminous Correspondence of
the Board Of Education
Laid Bare.
TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT b.s ,se,

A TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT has bee,
stirred up over the physical exam
nation OF the school boys at Kaa-
rumanu school. II appears that certain
Of the youngsters under the care Of prin-
eipai Townsend were compelled by DIT.
Howard to take OF their upper clothing
In the presence OF each other. and over
this there has been written enough cor
respondence 10 clothe any one Of these
youngsters from head TO foot.
Principal Townsend has written super-
irtendent Atkinson telling OF the dreadful
outrage and Superintendent Atkinson has
ressed the buck to Dr. wood. II has
been returned with compliments ana
much rhetoric on many foolscap sheets
by DIT. Wood. and Or. Howard has come
forth and delivered himself at length on
the subject. The whole matter was
brought up before the Board OF Educa-
ton at Its meeting yesterday and an hour
or more was occupied In reading the va
riotm eptsties IN the case. As the matter
" of considerable interest. the entire cor
respondencc Is herewith reproduced:
THE FIRST GUN EPIsToLARY.
This II Mr.. Townsend's nrst letter call
Ina attention TO the matter:
Kaahumanu School. Oct. 10. 1900
NJ. a. T. Atkinson. Superintendent Of
Public Instruction.
SIR; DIR. Howard came this morning 70
examine the pupils OF this school for the
required health certificates. and he and
developed some difference Of opinion as
held that pupils should be examined solus.
and he wished n whole class to strip 10
the waist and stand In the room together
while one by one they were further strip
ped and examined. Although on his rep
rssentatiOn that that IL the method IN.
tioyed IN the Hish School and oil other
schools of the city, I offered to yield un.
der protest and have the work 40 on,
he preferred TO wait that I might get in
structions on the matter. I now await
your orders.
All that asked OF DR.. Howard in the
matter Of the boys I asked OF DIR. Cleve-
land for the girls and she Informed me
that that was n matter Of course. and
that the examination would have been
conducted as wished II without my men,
tioning the matter. all Of which I fully
believe.
Yours very truly.
| HENRY 8. TOWNSEND.
Principal OF Kaahumanu School
| ATKINsoN's FUsILADE.
Here is what Mr.. Atkinson said to Dr.
Wood
October 1ith. 1900.
Dr G. H. Wood. Board OF Health.
Sir: Permit me TO call your attention
90 the enclosed copy Of n communication
received yesterday from Mr.. Townsend.
principal OF the Kaahumanu School.
relative TO n difference OF opinion between
Dr. Howard and himself as to the proper
method Of conducting the medical exam
ination Of pupils required by your Board.
Assuming the facts 10 be substantially
ne stated. u APPEARS TO me that the post
tion taken by Mr.. Townsend In the prem
lses II reasonable and right.
Young peopie-children. N you please
within the compulsory school age. six "a
lnfteen years. have rights In a matter OF
this kind that should be respected, and
which u IL the duty OF this Department
70 protect Such feelings OF dellcacy. not
90 say decency. as school children may
lpossess and manifest. should be respected
and encouraged rather than ignored and
trnm implied on. The adverse influence ir
this community is quite strong enough
without receiving any aid or encourages
ment from official action.
NJ should be remembered that the perl
odcal examinations OF pupils In the Gov
|. lernment schools. however proper or nee
ersary. ~ by no means n popular measuri
> with either children or parents. IL Is
therefore. very desirable that such exami
ne 20 avoid unnecessary friction and af
fcrd no reasonable ground for complaint
confess myself somewhat surprised y
the statement attributed TO DR.. Howard
, THAT the method he proposed To emplo'
, at Kaahumanu was the same as was EN-
\ pIoyed In the High School and all othe
, schools In the city. think there must o
lsome mistake somewhere. Both the prin
. Ic,pst and vice principal state that IN
method followed In conducting the medi
: lcaI examination In that school is quit
ldlnerent from that described by MI
lTownsend.
Yours faithfully.
ALATAu r. ATKINSON,
superintendent OF Public Instruction.
! DR. WOODS COMMON SENSE.
: And here foiioweth pr. Woods reply
Mr.. Atkinson:
!. lAlatau T. Atkinson. Superintendent
!. Public Instruction.
SIR; Your communication OF Octoo'
, lifth IN re the regular examination
Ichiidren nj the beginning OF the scho
ie wear n at hand. The truth OF your ~
n marks concerning decency and proprie
N I'm conducting the examination is so man
IN lfsst as TO require no discussion. The tho
lough exau1ination Of the children VINO a
a tend the public schools In this country
~ a matter OF public necessity. necessa'