The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-10-21
MYTHOLOGY
IN SCHOOLS
TeaChersAdvocate
Its General
Use.

mas yet ATTENDED the Sessions OF tne
Territorial Teachers Association was
present last evening at the regular
monthly meeting held in the High
School, when the subject of Myths in
History and Literature" and methods OF
mparting the subject in the schools
was interestingly presented by Prof. A.
X. Grifiiths, president of Oahu College,
Prof. NJ. NJ. Scott of the High School,
Mrs. Fraser. Miss Whine, Mrs. Heapy
and Miss Felker Mrs. Lila Marshall
of the Normal School gave blackboard
illustration OF how myths can be i'm
parted to students, which was a revela-
ton of the pains which many teach
lightened. The program of literary ex-
ercises was interspersed with musical
selections, to which Mrs Lull, Prof.
Ballaseyus. Mrs. Miller and Miss Flor
ence Hin contributed.
The meeting was held in the large as
sembly room and every seat was occu-
pied. The program was opened by a
piano solo by Prof. Ballaseyus, who was
followed by Prof. Griffiths, who spoke
on Myths in History and Literature"
Prof. GrifIiths said that all from child
with the myths, legends and fables of
the ancients, but without understand
ing their theory or intent, or even the
beauty Of the stories and their relation
to man. The origin of myths, relations
of one with another, and their use, are
little understood. Fables, he said, were
not to be included with myths, fables
generally serving to give a lesson in
morals. Myths are the primitive ex-
pressions of mankind and of people
whose doings are practically unknown.
If they did not spring from the begin
ming OF nation they grew impercepti-
bly,. Wonderful events to the ancients
were not manifestations of natural
law. but the doings of titans and super
natural beings. The vivacity of imag
ination among the ancients was the
cause Of myths. The point of view of
sideratlon as a cause for the belief in
myths. The powerful imaginations
which are now giving us engines. x
rays. electricity and other types of mod
ern scientific expression. had no knowl
edge Of these things in the old days.
Their closest approach to science was
the law of analogy. that the same forces
controlled nature as human beings. The
myth is the explanation Of some natural
phenomenon expressed by primitive
man. All that was needed to cause these
on the one hand and a receptive one on
the other. and exu5erant fancies also
played an important part in their de-
veloprent. There was a survival Of
the flttest of the myths. and these have
taken the form Of an imperishable art.
AS to the teaching of mythology in
schools. Prof. Griffiths said that a
knowledge of 1t was important, as it led
etical sense. To him. mythology was
the mirror in which We see the people of
the earliest days Mythology was their
history in embryo. serving as COM
plete introduction.
Prof. Scott agreed that the study Of
myths in schools was important, but
he found the greatest difficulty in that
scholars reach the High School grades
CT Of 4 ha ola
sizes. Mrs. Nina d. Fraser, principal of
Kaiulani School, was in favor of the
teaching of fables TO young children as
their minds were receptive for such in
struction. Myths that had some edu-
cational value We're helpful in school
work. Miss Whine. of the Punahou
Preparatory. thought the benefit OF
myths being taught in school came
from reproducing the stories and giving
the pupils an opportunity to develop
their dramatic instinct Mrs. Heapy.
principal of Pohukaina school, said that
dramatic expression. as a means OF
making the children remember myths.
was an excellent way. 1t was difficult
TO get the children to reproduce their
ideas on paper. Their conception of the
stories by words was far different from
that OF the instructor that 1t was better
To act them out. Miss Felker believed
IN sandwiching In fables In the regular
courses. Prof. Dyke OF Kamehameha
School favored illustrating such myths
az could A~ ~ n-~-@pted. as II assi-.-.
IN developing the students poetic sense.
Mrs, Lila Marshall told the story of
hiawatha's sailing In captivating
manner. illustrating 1t with a sketch on
the blackboard, depicting Hiawatha's
vigwam. the river trees. mountains,
and the canoe which he built. The
sketnh was exoellently produced,
Miss Florence nm. the young student
o. Oahu College whose charming sopra- !
80 voice wan her the plaudits OF many
last year audiences, favored the teach
~s with a solo, "Pro,esiailons," with
violin Obligato by Mrs. Lull, Mrs Mil
Ter accompanying on the plano, Her
rich voice hlled the assembly room ana
IA. s.ua heartily auulatIlad FpI. .l.a