Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-03-21
EDUCATIONAL INvEsTlGA.
TONS.

With the special committee at work.
the Expenditures Committee investiga.
ting and the Governor authorizing AT.
Judd to act as his special representa-.
tive in carrying out the request of
Superintendent Atkinson, 1t would
seem that conditions in the Bureau of
Public instruction we're due TO be fully
known. Provided Of course that those
doing the work are really in search OF
unbiased facts.
One thing is certain however The
actual facts of the situation are not
likely to be brought out II the method
OF inquiry adopted is like that report
cd to prevail at the sessions Of the
special committee which appears to
consider its province to further inves-
tigate the charges made by the Grand
Jury. a review OF what went on before
this secret session has been given in
The Bulletin. Thus the secrecy of the
inquiry becomes of the worst type
Imaginable because the public Is given
part only of the testimony developed.
none CT which appears to be OF a char
acter that need worry anyone because
Of its personal or highly sensational
character. The necessity for secrecy
here is by no means apparent.
Furthermore nothing will come from
the inquiry carried ON by the special
committee II the questions are Of the
type, Cor instance, reported to have
been put to the teachers called at
Mondays session. A fair sample is
said to be found in a query some.
thing like this: Have you any com.
plant to make against the Superin.
t.ndent of Public instruction and the
The scope Of this question is large
enough to furnish the basis Of an
essay, II the person questioned desired
to go into il. The size in fact kills
the efficacy of the question, unless the
teacher is primed to go after the
whole organization of the department
individually and severally. II all the
teachers under the employ Of the edu
cational department were asked this
question, ninety nine out Of q hundred
would undoubtedly-after considering
the question and the necessity fol
holding their posltions-answer In the
negative. Questions can be Of o char
acter to stiae information and from
what has come out of the secret SEES
Gions on educational affairs 1t is cas-,
TO gain the impression that the invss
tigation is not without this phase.
The public at large has no evil dis
position toward the department Of edu
cation or nay Of its officials. The public
however wants to know the facts, AM
average humanity in this Territor.
knows that the employees of the de
partment are not going TO voluntee
Information when there is POSSIBLE
ity of its costing the Ill will Of thos,
In authority and consequent DANCE
of dismissal.
The report of the Expenditures Com
mittee Is in the hands of the Governor
Isn't II about time for the legislator
TO put 1t in the hands of the people?
Now comes the Governor, fulfilling
the personal request of Superintendent
Atkinson, with his own investigation
which he has turned over to Mr.. Judd
The Governors agent is an able law
yer and a pleasant gentleman, but 4
this third avenue of investigation I,
take on the same line of secrecy tina
has gone before? Mr. Atkinson ha
been calling for the utmost publicity
This demand has been echoed by tn,
Commissioners Of Education AM
strengthened by the chairman Of tn
House Committee on Education.
Isn't 1t about time to quit the hol
in the corner business and turn tn
light of publicity on this investigation
the only light that is a guarantee,
against false charges, the only ligh
that will set the officials of the depart
ment right in their estimate of tn,
vigor and strength Of character tina
exists in the most important depart
ment in the Territorial government?
All those interested can take II To-
granted that the people will not b,
satisfied that fair play has been don,
or that the true state Of affairs has beer
approached, II this present policy o
secret conclave is continued. Ant
there is no reason why they should b,