The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-12-31

tally and inseparab1y associated with the
best welfare of our youth.
The true end of the public schools is
to educate the children to become good
citizens and good members of society;
and the preparation for good citizenship
demands both intellectual and moral
training.
The pupils attending our schools
should be given the ground work for
the future, without any idea of making
them specialists, or giving IA snattering
of studies belonging to an advanced ed
ucational sphere They should be thor
oughly rehearsed along essential lines,
in careful, businesslike manner All
the extras and non-essertials in the
schools and school textbooks should be
wholly eliminated This would be saw
ing of much valuable time to the pupils.
besides large amount of money month
ly, which could be used for other pur-
poses, of a more practical nature, to-
better advantage
= As regards the public schools, the
public may be divided into three classes:
T. Those who are inactive in their
attitude. This is the largest class.
2. Those who are insistent in their
criticisms.
3. The interested = the intelligent
portion of the people. This latter class
is the smallest, but will it is hoped,
become a well-defned, active and po-
tent power for every agency that will
encourage, promote and strengthen the
Improvement of schools.
INOUISITORS BLOCKED.
We had no little time, labor and diff
fculty IN examining into the conduct of
this department. The Superintendent
of Public Instruction is the Honorable
AIatau T. Atkinson. His immediate
office force consists of a secretary and
an assistant secretary, also performing
the duties of school agent for Homo
lulu; a stenographer and bookkeeper,
messenger and other attendants. Three |
school inspectors have also their head |
quarters in the Office of the Superintend- |
ent
We have to report that there is a |
congestion of unfortunate conditions |
prevailing. especially in the Superin- |
tendent's Office, which demands heroic |
methods to eradicate and readjust 1t |
appears that the Superintendent of Pub |
lie Instruction has long since manifest /
ed a personal Indifference as to the
proper or improper performance, by
teachers, of their duties; that he takes
but little, If any. personal interest III |
their responsibilities and advancement.
Such an attitude is a detriment to
proper school work throughout the Ter
ritory. He has rarely been seen in the
schools of the city of Honolulu per-
to observe methods or make
suggestions. In fact. his personal pres
ence is virtually an unknown factor in
the schools The teachers powers of
initiative and individuality are thus
dwarfed. If not destroyed. From evi
ience adduced, this grand jury reports
that the course of study now in vogue
IN the schools has not been revised for
many wears past: further, even though
four hundred teachers are employed IN
his department, there are not in use,
my printed rules or regulations to co:1-
rol them All teachers on the MAIN
and. in cities, are provided with copies
If such, and Board of Education, fail
ng to prepare and adopt rules and reg
llations for the guidance of teachers,
would be regarded as gravely indifferent
# duty. Such rules and regulations
h 5uld be drafted. carefully considered
" school officials and leading teach
RS. and adoDted and promulgated for
he schools of this Territory.
HARD UPON TEACHERS.
1t is our consensus of opinion that
influence ought to be,
t all times, an active, sympathetic,
and enthusiastic one for the |
of the teachers and the up
fting of the business of the, public
chool work and not confined within
he four walls of an office 1t should
e rather an influence of personal pres
nee among the teachers and pupils,
rhich would encourage them in habits
f industry and inculcate ambition, civil
". seif-poise and thorough knowledge
f the theory, art and practice Of
.aching; thus a superintendent would I
xtend, successfully, up-to-date expert
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