The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-05-12
A JUNIOR
REPUBLIC
Miniature / Government
lin hiIo Boarding
School.


ing School building has attracted to
that splendid institution the attention
of the public. Few persons realize
that Principal F. S. Lyman and his
on within the limits of the Hilo Board
ing School a miniature republic, in
which the students carry on a system
OF government calculated TO educate
them in the correct principles Of in
dustry and good citizenship.
There are over sixty boys attending
the school, representing seven nation
aiities, from the island of Hawaii and
other islands. The Hawaiians pre-
dominate, but all classes live and work
together as in one great family. Mill
and quarrels and school fights are un-
known. The school has forty acres Of
land, most of which is under cultiva-
ton by the students. Coffee, pineap-
pies, taro, and a small field of cane
are scientifically raised, as well as a
vegetable garden which supplies the
school. In connection with the school
the U. S. Experimental Station have
planted a field of cacao, or ''koko," and
are experimenting in growing vari-
cites of bananas.
All the work of the school is per-
formed by the students. 1t is through
their efforts that the farm produces
the taro, fruit and vegetables for their
table. The carpenter and blacksmith
classes make all the necessary repairs
upon the buildings, furniture and farm
implements. The boys learn plumbing,
stone crushing and masonry through
their efforts to advance the actual
needs of the institution. Besides this,
there is the daily attention the school
rooms, shops and dormitories receive
at the hands of the cleaners.
The dining department carries with
it a good deal of interest. The boys
are their own cooks and stewards and
the work is SO divided that in one
year the majority of the school has
served it's apprenticeship in this line
matron.
Every department is carried on with
clockwork regularity and each boy can
be found at his post, either in the
school, farm or shops. A stranger 60
ing upon the grounds is mystified to
know where all the boys can be. There
is no evidence of the sixty boys who
make the school their home.
The school has a company of we'll
kept soldiers. and each soldier of this
democracy is a citizen with a citizens
rights. Judges are elected from their
numbers, who try all cases brought be-
fore them. This court sits once a week
and is under the general supervision
of the principal. If offenders are found
guilty suitable punishment is melted
out. By the adoption of this judicial
system among the boys, the barrier be-
tween pupil and teacher is bridged A
high valuation is placed on honor, and
any boy who receives no diScredit
marks is given special privileges which
he himself has earned.
The Boarding School differs in many
WAYS from the government schools, as
it has for its aim more than the regular
classroom curriculum. The boys learn
to be practical farmers, carpenters,
printers, wood turner's, wood polishers
and blacksmiths. Five days per week
are devoted to the classroom and man
uaI training work and study hours are
also provided.
The great effort of the school is to
inculcate the spirit of independence. A
nominal charge of $35 per year is made
to cover necessary supplies not raiseo
on the school farm. All is not work
for the students in the school, for be-
sides having every Monday a regular
rest day, numerous picnics are held
throughout the year. During the East
er vacation the boys go. on camping
expedition on the sea shore or noun
tain side.
The old school building has outlived
its usefulness and proper accommoda-
tions cannot be given the students. The
building when completed will be the
largest. if not the finest, school on the
island of Hawaii. Enough money
from popular subscriptions by citizens
of Hilo, Honolulu and Kauai has been
raised to erect the main structure and
one wing Owing to the lack of funds,
the construction of the second wing
has been delayed. There is a balance
of about Sc, 900 needed for this pur-
pose.
Besides the amount needed to com
plete the building, a large endowment
is needed for the maintenance OF the
school Tt is proposed to apply all
money subscribed over and above the
amount necessary for the completion
Of the building to the endowment fund.
The public must not think it is being.
asked to subscribe to private insti-
tuition. While established primarily for
Hawaiian boys, all nationaiities are
received within its doors. The purpose
of the school is purely Humanitarian
and it is an institution where the
vouth of the islands can be trained to
a higher manhood and to nobler clti-
zenship.-Hilo Tribune
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