The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1905-03-23

fine exhibit was got up with great
ability for ST. Louis. by the teachers"
he said. Il had nothing 70 do with
IT, except TO notify them what date 20
have the exhibits here and they all ar
rived by that date" The exhibits did
not go as there was no money to send
g. TO ST. Louis. Many visitors here
ard many who have seen the exhibits
had declarded that Hawaii had a
school system that compared favorably
with others. A normal school IS in
operation and is beginning to nearly
supply the Territory with its own
teachers. The completion Of the new
normal school building would give Ho-
rolulu as good a Normal as any west
Of the Rocky mountains. the superin-
tendent thought. If not as good as any
where else. Except for higher mathe-
matics, he thought it best TO employ
teachers trained here.
As to the construction Of new build
ings, the Superintendent said was I'm
the hands Of the Department Of Pub
lie Works. The responsibility Of the
instruction department began when the
keys Of { e completed building were
turned over. though in most cases the
architects consulted the superintendent.
do you think it would be better II
the submission Of architects plans to
the Instruction Department was made
compulsory"
Yes, ! think So"
what chance have you Of meeting
the teachers personality"
"They come to my Office, once I'm
while I go to the schools, although I do
not now go to the other islands 1t
would be impossible for me to do so.
But meet most Of the teachers. They
come to me at various times. They.
come before and after school hours
and on Saturdays, and If they have any
complaints to make or any troubles,
they tell me, and I, to the best Of my
ability, do what can to right them.
Then have a constant report from the
local school agent. Then there is con-
slant correspondence"
Would It be possible for a teacher
who has left the service for him or her
to say they had been discharged with
out cause or reason?"
u don't think So. 1 know of no
such case"
"As remember from what you said,
teachers are not removed or discharged
except on consultation with the COM
missioners?"
yes. In some cases I don't think
it should go on record. There have
moral"
How close a personal investigation
are you able to follow improvements
going on in the various schoolhouses
near Honolulu, except through the
school agent"
There is not a schoolhouse 1 have
not ridden to while improvements are
going on, except some minor improve
ments. l went several times to the
Ro.'al and Normal schools"
IF the Maemae school for instance
had been painted who would have the
authority to make the contract?"
'"The school agent"
1T is the ordinary procedure that
that contract be made after confer
ence with you?"
Certainly, that is the system; she
comes to me and says we have so
much money and we can afford to do
so much work on the Maemae school
and say go ahead"
would she have authority to go
ahead without getting your consent?"
mo, sir. 1 don't know that she has
ever done so. have written to all the
school agents in the islands to say
they must do nothing unless they APP
ply first at the central office. In form
er times they took the bit in their teeth
and ran it as they pleased and I had
to have a circular letter written about
it,"
Can you state whether the custom
has grown up in the schools of teach
ers giving extra instructing for COM
pensation outside of school hours?"
II have nothing to do with them out
side of school hours"
II don't state that to be the case,
as I don't know"
Il have been a teacher" continued
Mr.. Atkinson, 'and when my work was
done in the public school I used to
teach music and French, bookkeeping
and a whole lot of things, but not in
the public school building"
The hearing adjourned to eleven
o'clock this morning.
. t,~+;.S<aNE,~<aS+:sS+s 80 S.N+sN