The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-07-08
EDUCATION.

The opening of the Summer school
yesterday with an attendance Of over
eighty pupils shows what can be done
III proper organization and manage
school, where classes have been form
ed for actual work for nearly two
ment are brought into play. This is
the third year of the true Summer
months time. The attendance is per-
fectly voluntary, and those who pre-
sent themselves choose such courses
as they feel will do them the most
good. Thus there are teachers here of
experience who attend to perfect them
selves in school course in drawing, in
manual work, in the tonic sol ia sys-
tenn of music and so forth. The COM
ing together of tHesc teachers produces
an esprit de corps and mental activ-
ity which is Of immense value, while
it stimulates wonderfully those young
people who are just entering upon the
profession.
As far as professional work in this
direction is concerned, there are likely
to be good results and continued inn
provement. Manual training the rudi-
ments OF agriculture, practical work in
the school gardens, are going hand in
hand with the ordinary primary educa-
tIon But with all this we are but on
the threshold of our future work. With
the growing commercial Importance of
the Territory, there should be a COM
mercial side to our education where
practicable This is a subject which
has been practically met in Germany,
and our cOnsuls have been urging upon
MS that like interest should be shown
IN the United States This commercial
work is fostered by the Chambers OF
Commerce. There are 145 Chambers OF
Commerce, OF similar organizations, in
! ll2 are actively engaged in promoting
! commercial education.
/ The statistics for 1901 show that %
Chambers of Commerce gave $15,652 in
cash to A commercial schools, which
work entirely under their own man
agement Six chambers paid one-thrd
If the deficits in u commercial schools
with Independent management; the
amount is not stated. FOrty-eight
Chambers Of Commerce voted the SUM
of $4,000 to 1872 commercial schools,
which were more or less controlled by
these chambers. Eight Chambers OF
Commerce paid Part of the deficits of
is commercial schools, which were
partially under their management.
Twenty-four Chambers of Commerce
gave small sums to 81 commercial
schools for the purpose Of buying
Irizeg books, etc. Four Chambers de-
voted 1887 to Independent lectures on
commerce and industry.
1 In Germany there is a complete sys-
tenn of public schools, but the CONNER
cial section of the community recog-
nizes the fact that the work of the
state must be supplemented, and that if
the commercial side of education is to
succeed, it must have the assistance of
the commercial community. This idea
is only of recent growth but it is an
idea which is rapidly spreading and
which is already bearing fruit.
We have a commercial department
attached to the High School, but it is
in its crude beginning and is terribly
hampered by want of proper funds and
adequate house room and furniture.
But we should have a commercial be-
ginning in many of our schools. If
the commercial organizations of Ha-
wall took a leaf out of the German
book, there would be a wonderful i'm
petus in a desired direction. An active
interest and investigation by COM
mittee of the Chamber of Commerce
would be invaluable to a good cause.