The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-05-03
THE SCHOOL MA'AM.

1--WE never knew that the haole lady
teachers would take such care of our
children. They walked beside them, they
kept them in line gently, they helped
them when the little ones were tired
and they each saw that the little ones
were fed
This is a remark made by many Ha-
waiian mothers who attended the May
day parade. 1t was the highest praise,
because it was spontaneous praise, and
it was in spite of prejudice which had
recently been most industriously sown.
During the recent session of the Leg
islature there were quite a series of re-
marks upon the "haole lady teachers"
and how little they cared for the chill
dren, but only for their pay. That
these remarks were unjust, everybody
who knew anything about the schools
of the country was perfectly aware.
But though people clamor for better
schools, and complain of education not
being advanced enough, and remark
that teachers are unfaithful, hardly
one per cent of such compliments have
ever put foot within school house,
have seen the patient industry the con-
troll of temper, the unfailing kindness
of the teachers, and especially of the
female teachers, or really knows any
tning upon the subject of the schools,
the number of pupils in them, or what
they do. These remarks are usually
made upon ex parte statements of some
one who has lost position either
through incompetence or misbehavior
There used to be an idea that when
a person was unfit for anything else,
he or she was competent to manage
a school, just as there still is an idea
that any one can run a newspaper. The
idea still fingers in some minds. That
any one can run school was still an
idea of several of the Legislators of the
last session, in fact it was expressed
in set terms and it was impossible to
drive into such minds how much train
ing and time must be given to special
preparation to become a school teach
er
According to the last report of Super
intendent of Public instruction the
public schools employed 1852 school
teachers of whom 112 were males and
24O were females. Thus the school
ma'am is very much in the majority
and must have very much the larger
and more extended influence. That of
these people all should be highly con-
scientious, or all should be aCtuated by
the highest motives would be absurd
to state. But it can be stated fearless
ly that there will be found a higher
percentage of high idealed people. of
self sacrificing people, of conscientious
people among the ranks of the school
teachers than among any profession
upon the face of the globe.
Who knows in that pretty May-day
show which occurred this week, how
many a none too we'll paid school
ma'am put her hand into her scanty
purse and bought material for a dress
here or a dress there so that a poor
child might not have its feelings hurt
by not having a gala costume, simple
as it was. And such acts are not con-
fined to one gala day of the year Con-
stantly there is a drain upon the earn
ings in one way or another. There is
no one who knows more thoroughly the
poverty which exists, but does not seek
charity, than the teachers of our
schools in some of the poorer districts.
The school teachers of the Territory
have, by large sections of the commun-
ity, not been understood. The main
portion of them are young we'll edu-
Gated, trained ladies. They are neat
in their costume, it is part of a school
teachers duty to be neat and dainty
to set an ideal to her pupils. People
thereupon run away with the idea that
the school teachers aim in life is dress
1t is nothing of the kind, it is part of
her equipment in her profession. Then
teachers are conspicuous at entertain
ments. Fortunate for the children of
the territory a large number if not all
of the female teachers are sought after
in social gatherings. These gatherings
serve TO broaden the mind which would
otherwise become narrowed by a very
narrowing profession. The mental
strain of ever keepin" in one line is
great. and must have some relief.
Some one in the dim historic past
said "let me make the songs of the
people and 1 do not care who makes
their laws" Those who take an in
terest in our school teachers will readi-
ly say, when reading the remark which
heads this article, Let the teachers
have the voice and commentator of
the Hawaiian mothers and it does not
matter what any chuckle headed legis-
lator may say. Their place is assured
them"