The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-03-24
KAMEHAMEHA TEACHER RE-
PLIES To Mr.. ARMSTRON
An Article in Sundays Current Comment
Column Brings Out Spirited
Reioinder.

on the Kamehameha Schools. which
some of your readers will think worthy
of not a little consideration. Mr.. Arm
strong is a man of affairs. as well as
of culture, of large experience. of broad
the Hawaiian people. All this. how
ever. must not unduly progresses one
regarding the true value of his recent
contribution. He says that the Kane
hameha Schools are most unfortunate
ly located" that they should be locat-
ed ons distant island. like Molokai
well removed and isolated from all the
alien races"
strong gives at least three reasons, all
of which are plausible, but not one of
which is convincing. His argument is
not thorough" He should have said
something like this: When the Hawai-
ians were isolated from other races they
fiourished in great numbers, and enjoyed
better health and more happiness than
ever they have since. Therefore. they
should return to taro-planting, fishing
and kapa-beating; they should live in
caves. and in grass houses. Since they
they ought to be removed to few of
the smaller islands of the group. No
foreigners should be allowed to visit
them on pain of death: not even mis-
sionaries. lest the religious teachers, |
while preoccupied portraying in glow
ing colors the future world, should al |
low their children to deprive the ma /
tives of their landed rights, not leaving /
them sufficient ground to stand on.
Had Mr.. Armstrong said this, his rea-
soning would have possessed at least the
merits of clearness and simplicity. Yet |
this is the natural and logical conclu- /
sion that is TO be drawn from what he
did say. Such an argument, of course,
refutes itself. And it would be I'M
necessary to say any thing further on
the subject. were it not for the fact
that most people do not reason. One
of the idols of the tribe is the natural
tendency of man to accept as true.
without question, whatever is pleasing.
to his fancy, or falls in with his own
view. Hence, a few remarks on the
reasons assigned by Mr.. Armstrong for
his position will be admissible.
1. 1T is freely admitted" he says,
that educational institutions do not
thrive as they should, in white COM
near the cities" BY whom
this is freely admitted, Mr.. Armstrong,
does not say. 1 freely
admit that, in former times, when the
chief subjects of study were theology
and philosophy, subjects which were
almost as barren as were the vestal
city was the proper place for the loca-
ton of educational institutions. Some
Of them. it is true. were located in the
desert, and they might well have been
placed in the clouds. had such a thing
been possible. 1 also freely admit that,
even in the present day. a rural loca-
ion is better for kindergartens and
primary schools. But that such loca-
ion is better for educational institu-
ions in which young men and women
without risking his whole
reputation. could admit. The educa-
ional institution which is isolated soon
becomes fossilized and decadent. out
If touch with life and the world. Its
tudents cannot study successfully such !,
PRACTICAL subjects as economics, socioI-
'gy. or ethics. law, politics. or medi-
inc.
2 But. says Mr.. Armstrong. the Ha-
like the negroes. should be
ducated industrialIy-or rather. should
eceive that industrial education which :
5 equivalent to agricultural education.
fully agree with Mr. Armstrong that {
he Hawaiians should be educated in
every sane man holds this.
But I submit that the reason for giving
he Hawaiians an industrial education
5 exactly the opposite of that assigned I
" him, viz, that the natives may not 1
e brought into "close competition with
he white men" The aim of industrial l
ducation at Kamehameha is to enable
he Hawaiians to compete with all COM
rs, and 10 prepare themselves for the '
losest competition that can possibly
rise But again, for the effective pur- s
nit of industrial education the students 6
must be brought into close touch with t
modern industrial life;-the trades, 7
and business, as well as
griculture. Mr.. Armstrong; state [