The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-10-12
MORE EXPENSIVE FAos
IN THE SCHOOLS.

Since Superintendent Atfinson's
friends are nov claiming for him that
the reason the night schools we're
closed vas because Of a shortage Of
funds. The Republican again points
out TO the Board Of Education this
morning where money belonging to
the schools Is being wasted on use
less fads. Not content with having a
special agricultural Instructor for the
primary and grammar schools OF this
city, the Superintendent has added an
agricultural instructor TO the Normal
School at an expense Of 1920 per
year As every one knows the object
Of a Normal School IS the training OF
teachers for the primary schools
What practical benefit is going to be
derived by embryo teachers while in
the Normal School by receiving in
struction from a teacher in agricul
ture We cannot understand Perhaps
Superintendent Atkinson can demon
strate TO taxpayers just what the
value OF this faddist instruction is, but
the people who believe that instruc,
tion in the public schools should be of
a useful and practical nature fail to
see its value.
Every one having any knowledge of
schools knows that the great mass OF
pupils never get beyond the grammar
grades. The chief object Of the pub
lie schools is to lay the groundwork
for a practical and beneficial eduea-
ton. an education that viii be Of ser
vice 20 the man and woman in all fu-
rure life. or course higher education
is desirable. but the masses cannot
secure It. and they want something
that viii be useful as well as prae
teal when It has been secured. The
Normal School is not an agricultural
college and every one knows that
smattering Of theoretical teaching Of
agriculture to young teachers only
tends 10 confuse them in their work.
What these intending teachers want
and need is practical instruction in
the art Of teaching and education in
the useful studies above what they
will be called on to teach in the
schools. Lectures on social science.
on physical geography. on political
science and on governments. would
be OF FAR more value than all the agri.
cultural instruction that could be
crowded luto 4 course twice the
length OF that Of the Normal School
OF course there is no money with
which TO reopen the night schools. but
apparently there are ample funds to
pay two instructors in agriculture,
one at the Normal School and another
to 60 about among the schools Of the
city OF Honolulu once a month. These
two agricultural instructors are paid
$l.200 a year each. or a total OF 5000
per month. sum sufficient to pay
the entire running expenses OF four
night schools in the city which would
accommodate from 100 to eco pupils.
There is no money. according TO the
friends OF superintendent Atkinson.
with which to pay the expenses Of the
night schools. but there seems 10 be
ample funds with which to employ s.
teacher in physical culture, whatever
that may be, at a salary OF $1,000 a
year. This is the newest and latest
fad In the schools. Not content with
having two instructors in agricul
tire. singing teacher with one as
sistant and a drawing teacher with
one assistant. the Superintendent re
Gently added 4 physical culture in
struetor at a salary Of SSs.SS Is pei
month. Altogether these fsds in the
primary schools Of this city cost the
enormous sum Of sslS per month. and
now to this must be added another
sl0e per month paid to the agricut
tural instructor Of the Normal School
How many night schools would this
se1S per month maintain9 Never in
The most extraYagant days Of the
night schools when such schools were
maintained in several OF the outlying
districts where the population was
not sufficient TO keep them going and
there was superintendent Of night
schools. did the total cost equal seiS
per month one-half Of this sum OF
s6iS per month would maintain six
night schools in the business and
thiekly settled parts Of the city caps
BILE Of accommodating from 25e to 500
pupils. Which do the taxpayers believe
would be the best way to use the
money. 10 continue the fads or to
abolish them and Fe-establlsh the
night schnnlss