The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1905-03-21
THE TROUBLE IN THE
DEPT. OF |SNTRUCT|ON

"6. No provision has been made for
lavatories and facilities for the pro-
curement of drinking water in the
schools. No care exercised in this re-
gard even in new buildings. The new
Royal School has water facilities for
neither drinking nor fire purposes.
~. Architectural extravaganza has
been INDUCED in, In building the Royal
School.
"S. No care has been exercised in
placing school buildings. The Normal
School is built in a most peculiar posi-
ton relative to the rest of the lot and
the adjoining premises.
80. The existing sanitary conditions
at Kaakopua school are bad, and the
school building is absolutely unfit for
school purposes"
ATKINSoN'S LETTER.
When the announcement was made
to Superintendent Atkinson that an in
vestigation was to be held, he wrote
the joint committee as follows, asking
for public hearing:
II learn from the public newspapers
that certain complaints and charges
against the conduct of this department
made by a recent grand jury have been
referred for investigation to your Com
mittee and o. similar committee of the
House of Representatives, acting joint
ly.
'As this is matter vitality affecting
my personal and official reputation
and as 1 have nothing to conceal, but
desire rather the fullest investigation,
l think 1 have a right to ask that the
sittings of the Committee be public,
that l be notified of all intended meet
ings, that 1 have the opportunity to
confront and cross-examine witnesses;
and also to make or cause to be made
full notes of all the proceedings, includ-
ing testimony.
Very respectfully,
"ALATAU T. ATKINSON,
Superintendent of Public Instruction"
FROM THE BOARD.
The members of the Board of Educa-
ton also sent the following letter to
the committees:
THE undersigned Commissioners of
Public instruction have learned
through the public newspapers that
certain complaints and charges made
against the administration of this Dc
partment by recent Grand Jury have
been referred for investigation to your
Committee and like committee from
the House of Representatives, acting
jointly.
The Commissioners of Public In
struction are charged by law with the
administration of a very important
trust, and they feel that any charges
against the manner in which that trust
is administered reflects upon their
intelligence or their good faith or
upon both.
1.-THE Commissioners desire the full
est publicity and an opportunity to
meet any and all assertions concerning
their official conduct in the full light
of day. The Commissioners ask TO- tee
following, not as favors, but as of
right:
Il. That they be furnished with G
copy of so much of the report of the
Grand Jury as refers to their depart
ment.
20. That the sittings of the Commit
tee be public apd that they be notified
of the time and place of all meetings.
'3. That they have the opportunity
of appearing before the Committee
either personally or by counsel, or both.
as they may think best.
"a. That they be allowed to confront
and cross-examine witnesses.
80. That they have compulsory proc
ess to secure the attendance of such
witnesses as they may desire to call.
"6 That they may be free to take
notes of all the proceedings of the
including testimony.
Trusting that the fairness and rea-
sonableness of the above will commend
itself to your sense of justice, the Com
missioners remain, yours very respect
fully,
wv. ID. Alexander, Alice c. Jordan,
II. NJ. Won Holt, Elizabeth Van Cleve
Hall. c. L. Hopkins, j. s. b. Pratt,
Commissioners of Public Instruction"
The few statements made by the two
grand jurors did not substantiate the
questions, also stated they We're strong
ly in favor of keeping up the agricul-
tural feature in the public schools. They
stated such teaching was featured in
the schools of many states.
The Commissioners stated there were
no discharges of teachers made with
out cause.
The Commissioners in answer to
charges.