The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-02-21
WILCOX SCHOOL BILL.


.n r.nrnaa f..fniif tf uUI.rat 1871.
..F sd "a meeting FHEfrfIHN fNHfNIHF
thr Unf1 90 Education d.rldtl in en-
HU .uIhHN. prUi.. HHlIn.i tNe
.. IhH nuul .HtIr. rt.niiy
introduced ana adopted fhr ilrm N
memorial of which 0n ''r.'s VII
bn ptlni.d tn ha fofwHrt'd io mr'Hhers
oft tIa nate and ilou.F ui lt'lf.ttn-
H.f|HNa
I. protest. Dob opening snys
Th. Department 90 TuhI, lnftrut.
..H having the management ana con.
HI uf au public schools in The Tcrt.-
t.Ir OF Hawaii feel bound Co enter "a
respectful but muft earnest protest
Hlalrst The passage 81 The h.Il "r any
bu uI similar character Tho uhlcr-
I tious to the proposed legislation are
~ two Kinds. 90 No such legislation
is needed. nor la fact any legislation
concerning school matters on the part
of Congress 90 " am legislation were
needed the bin introduced 10y Delegate
Wilcox would accomplish no good re-
suit"
The protest then Roes on 60 state In
detail the sufiCieuey of the present
school system in the Territory saying
This system was originally the work
81 some OF the ablest OF the men who
made their homes here during the first
hair 81 the nineteenth century, and
up 10 90 peculiar local conditions. Like
Iil systems of human d,vising the lia-
Waiian school system is capable Of FUR
Their advance and Improvement as eN-
periencc may show the same TO be
desirable and profitable. But such ad-
vance should be- made an the lines al
ready wisely laid down by those who
were and are thoroughly familiar with
existing conditions Any radical reur-
ganizatiou Of our rehool system, how
ever well meant sould only result In
gray. disaster to the educational in
tsrosts OF the Territory
a lengthy historical sketch Of the
Hawaiian school system. dealing with
All phases of the local education is
here given. Then follows statistics
showing the nationality of the students,
enrolment. cost, buildings etc.
2 Further facts are given showing tut
ton at present to be absolutely free,
English being the only language
taught; compulsory educational fea-
turns. regulation Of teachers salaries,
absence If color prejudice, party poll
tics. etc.
/ In conclusion. the defects Of the pro-
posed law are pointed out, as follows:
"To criticise IN detail the provisions
OF the measure under consideration
would be- an almost endless task, and
iE believed 10 be unnecessary The bill
s Of great length, consisting Of over
$50 pages and almost every page fairly
brIstlcs with provisions uncalled for.
aud iu most instances. wholly impracti-
cable. provisions that, even If enacted
into law, could not be put into opera
tion. 10 a few. only, Of these matters
win attention now be called.
l. II may be stated In general way
that The bin is drawn I'm absolute iR-
4 norance, or of utter indifference to ex-
isting conditions-moral, social histor-
ical, educational, political and statu-
tory.
.. 1t is in many points directly in
conflict, not only with existing Hawaii
an statutes. but with the organic act
as well To make it's provisions at all
workable. would require "a radical re-
vision Of the whole body Of our statute
law.
2. II assumes the existence of ooun-
ties. townships. municipalities. and
other political and administrative units
that do not now, and never did form
any part of our governmental system.
4. IL provides for large number OF
additional officials most OF whom
would have to be paid, thus dividing
responsibility. weakening efficiency. and
adding largely to the cost OF maintain
ing the schools.
8. II would break up entirely the
present uniformity in the examinations
and the grade of scholarship required.
c. II would do away entirely with the
present salary schedule, and with any
schedule under which teachers would
be paid on a consistent and uniform
system, based on qualifications and ser
vice. making neighborhood prejudice
and personal pull" the sole standard.
Z. 1t appears to contemplate. and GER
tainly authorizes, Il great reduction in
the amount of schooling TO be provided
In the course Of year; reduction
amounting I'm some cases to nearly one
half.
S. 1t would work greatly TO the dis
advantage of the smaller and poorer
districts not only diminishing the
quantity, but still more impairing the
quality of the teaching required.
3. It provides II way OF receiving,
handling and disbursing school funds
that is not only contrary to all sound
business principles, but is in direct
conflict with the elaborate and care
fully prepared provisions of the audit
act, which act controls all matters per
tanning to the handling Of Territorial
funds
Further facts and argument. in sup
port OF the position taken in this mat
ter by the department. could be pre-
scented almost indefinitely, but it is
hoped that the foregoing are sufficient
10 show two things:
"First-That there is no emergency"
whatever calling for Congressional ac-
tion and
"Second-That the passage OF the
bin now pending would create an
emergency OF the gravest character;
would throw our entire school system
into disorder, and deal to the cause
Of education In these Islands the sever
est blow II has ever received"
z o
DAY HAS BEEN SET