The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-02-22
SCHOOL and SCHOOL FUND
EFFECT OF THE SYSTEM OF
GENERALIZATION.
The Superintendent of Public Instruc-
ton Urges a Return to Local Control
Of Local School Taxation.

In his report to the Governor, the Su-
OF Public instruction has
this to say of the effect OF the Centra-
lied system of government under the
Republic of Hawaii on the school funds
ana the school system:
up to the year 1894 the School Tax
Of eacn district was expended in the
district in which it was collected. Al
ter that year the law was changed and
the School TAX was absorbed into the
general treasury The theory was that
the Government should be completely
centralized, and that there would be an
to the general public. l
the step a bad one at the
time. / was then an executive employe
of the Board. Time has shown that
was correct in my view. The putting
of the local school funds into the gem
eral treasury has caused more friction
and discomfort in the outer districts
than Will be allayed for some years,
and the Commissioners and Minister of
Public instruction, as he was called
until Annexation took 0lace, have had
to bear the results Of that discomfort.
Up to the time of this change in
management the School Agent
of each district, under bonds took
charge of the school fund of his dis
trict He administered this fund under
the guidance of the Board of Education.
He could not spend it as he saw fit; he
could only spend money under authori-
cation. In many cases, in fact in most
cases, the School Tax of the district
did not suffice to pay the salaries of the
teachers in that district, and as soon
as the tax was exhausted the general
fund for support of schools voted by the
Legislature, was drawn upon. But in
some cases, especially where there
were large plantations, the school fund
more than paid the salaries, and sur
plus was left over, which, being hus-
banded, served to build new school
houses, when required, and repair those
which were already in existence. / can
well remember how much was able TO
be done out of the local school fund in
MakaWao, when Hon. G. II. Dickey first
took charge as School Agent. Also
how well the Hamakua and North Ko-
hala schools were kept in repair and
painted under the agencies of Rufus
Lyman and b. d. Bond.
AT the present time no school dis
trict can be fore-handed, no school dis
hlct can be economical in it's manage
ment FOR the purpose of nursing a fund
for its local Improvement. The general
school appropriation in the Legislature
appears considerably larger than it
would if the School Tax were spent in
each separate district and as / have
some districts which do not have their
full Schol Tax paid out in the dis
trict.
Il have had prepared a schedule Of
the School Tax collected for 1900. and
also the expenditure upon schools for
the same year according to districts
and Islands. 1t is worth careful study
by any one taking an interest in the
school system and the needs of the
future.
From this table it will be seen that
no Island is able to pay entirely out of
the school tax for the school system.
There are, however five districts which
can do so, and would have money in
hand. One of these districts is that of
Puma, Hawaii, and this district has a
distinct grievance under the present
system. Years ago, before the kiss of
the Prince of Industry awoke the Sleep
ing Beauty Of agricultural possibility.
the district was one which yielded the
smallest school tax in the group. But
with the development of the district
the school tax has increased as the
school needs have increased. Last year
the expenditure upon the district for
school purposes was but $4,125, though
the collection from school tax alone was
$6,I54, and the total tax collections of
the district amounted to S31, 1875.
Now Puma is in dire need of school
houses, but the Superintendent and the
commissioners of Public Instruction
nave mad no means of supplying Puma
with the requisite houses, and what is
Just as necessary in newly settled
district, with cottages for teachers.
ana TINS has occurred in face of the
tact that the school tax from Puma not
only paid for all it's educational ex-
penses, but had over $500 surplus
which might have been used to erect
buildings instead of, as now, being de-
pendent upon the good will of the plan
tatlon people for the premises occupied.
rms, one would think, would be suffi-
cient commentary upon the system of
CONTAMINATION inaugurated in 1894.
But Puma is by no means the ONLY
case in point. Take the district of EVA
and Waianae. The School Tax amount
ed to $ll 1888, the expenditures for 1900
was $500. Here again is a surplus of
$500. This district has had urgent
need of a teachers cottage at oahu
Plantation, and change of a school
site at Waiawa. There has been no
appropriation for the Commissioners TO
draw upon, and the district has had TO
lose Valua bic teachers in the one case
because they had no means of finding a
proper and convenient home, and in the
other there has been distinct loss
or efhciency because the school has to
DE maintained in what is now an utter
ly unsuitable place. Yet, If the district
had had partial control of its own
school fund, it would have been able
10 make these improvements.
Again take Waialua of Oahu. The
school tax for 1900 was Sass The ex-
penditures for school purposes was S3.-
l54 Y, and there would have been a
surplus of $1,000 for the year. 1t is
urgently necessary that the site of the
school should be changed, owing to the
changed conditions of the concentra-
ton of population. A site has been OBJ
tanned from the Bishop Estate, but
nothing can be done until an appropria-
ton is obtained from the Legislature
Tor the erection of new school, by the
sale of the old school buildings, and the
balance in hand a good step towards
nuftinR the paus avpa