The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-09-21
THE NIGHT
SCHOOLS
An Experiment That
Succeeds.
PROGRESS OF THE WORK
Chance For Young Men Who Work
BY Day to Study by
Night

Perhaps nothing viii give greater salts
faction TO the taxpayers Of this infant
territory" than the marked Improvement
in the night schools since their inaugura-
ton by Superintendent A. T. Atkinson in
1886. Although comparatively speaking
thu youngest Of the educational move
ments in Honolulu their short but pro-
gressive history can easily be verified by
visit to any one Of the five night schools
now in existence, which are the direct
loutgrowth OF the one solitary school
tablished five years ago. 1t may be we'll
to remember that public money expended
in this manner is ten times repaid by nc
beneficiary; inasmuch as a chance is given
these boys and young men of remedying
a defective education and becoming useful
and respectable citizens, instead of sink
Il nE to the lowest strata of society. These
schools have accomplished, and are still
&C &C mplishing. a wonderful work. When
the wide diversity of character, the com
niingling of races and the difference of
ages, as wen as the different grades is
considered, this vast undertaking by the
Beard of Education. is worthy of the
nil hest commentator.
1t was in 1885," said Mr. Lightfoo;,
that Mr. a. T. Atkinson, superintendent
( Of schools. conceived the idea OF inaug-
VI ating the night school in Honolulu and
established what is remembered as the
old Fort Street school. 1t was a success
from the beginning. People at that time
pooh poohed the idea and said it woul1
die a natural death; but it didn't On the
contrary, it fiourished like the traditional
green bay tree, waxed fat and grew apace.
Superintendent Atkinson then decided 10
have more Of such good things and &c
lcofGingly the following five schools were
established: Moiliili. Kawaiahao, Aala,
Kalihi-waena and the Royal
The old Fort street school, during Mr.
Tow nsend's regime. was changed from
Fort street 10 the Royal. 1t suffered, at
the time considerably from the change;
but by degrees picked up again-and is now
hourishing. This is the second week IN
der the new plan of decentralization and
the schools are running smoothly. The
attendance is all that could be desired at
present New pupils are presenting them
selves nightly and in one of the schools
Kawaiahao-mauy had TO be turned
away, as the seating capacity would not
accommodate them. The school at Aala
did not open until last Monday. the 18th,
but it now has a good showing
The night schools, as at present con-
iduCted, have quite come up TO expecta-
items. Mr.. Ligbtfoot,-who is superinteu-
dent of night schools.-stated TO the rep
Preventative of this paper, that the schools
were well attended, especially by Hawai-
ians and Portuguese. We have also quite
a number OF Chinese and japanese and, ii
fact, a fair proportion of almost every
ccuntry and cline At Kawaiahao We
have been obliged to seat ffty-twO pupil.
in a room originally designed for bu
twenty and a large crowd has been turnet
away. Another room viii be opened ther'
tonight and l confidently expect to fine
every seat filed ." said Mr.. LightfOot
! The teachers are: h1r. Medeiros, Moili
iii: Mrs. Hopkins and Miss l.. Aheong
Kawaiahao; Mrs. Marshall and Mr. HITS
Aala; Miss Arnold, Kalihi-waena; Mis-:
lDietz, Mrs. Cogney and Mr.. Walcot, th'
Royal School.
The night schools have generally adopt
ed the Washington lights which are prov
ing satisfactory and contrary TO the OF
sy stem Of lighting. give a clear brilliant
fame enabling any pupil,-whose eyes are
rct defective,-to plainly see blackboard
work from any side Of the room. Elec-
trio lights are also provided in several
Of the schools
AIR. Lightfoot stated that they had a
room for higher nathema tics and rnechan
iical drawing which was chiefly attended
Hast year By American and British lads
Every boy who attended the class faith
fully 10 the end Of the term did well anC
gained better position. So far this tern
boys have not materialzed. which seems
a great pity. This is a great chance to the
ambitious lad to gain higher education
by merely giving VI a couple of hours
nightly TO a course Of study so interesting
that it fairly grows upon one. This
course is a favorite one in the States and
is always well attended. Perhaps IL may
not be generally known and properly un-
derstood that this class is open and free
Ito all boys DESTROYS of entering. Perhaps
the preparing and entering for the boa
races have had something TO do with tbs
non-attendance in this class. but as al
that Is over. the Board of Education vii
be pleased TO have pupils avail themselves