Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-03-01
SHAPING EDUCATIONAL Policy

. Il J..
II the county law is the main Issue
before the present Legislature. ample
provision for the school education OF
the children and young people of the
Territory is close second. Hawaii
Is proud OF its schools but II has no
time to rest on its laurels, with new
problems presented each year and a
steady dCSand for steady improve
ment in the efficiency of our school
system.
President Roosevelt has said that ths
tribute paid by Alfred Moseley. leader
of the Moseley Commission, when he
reported to the British public that 1.-The
average American boy. when he leaves
school, is infinitely better fitted for his
vocation and struggle in life than the
English boy" is a fair estimate OF
American civilization, in its educational
aspects, which determines and stamps
cur national character. The Moseley
Commission saw the schools of the
mainland. We hope the day may come
when II would be able to say the same
complimentary things Of the schools
OF Hawaii in the country as well 40
the city.
One OF the greatest schemes for edu-
cation ever evolved was framed by
Thomas jefferson who has left as many
IL not more marks of true grandeur
on our history than any other Amerl-
can. In mapping out a scheme of edu-
cation for the State of Virginia Thomas
Jefferson laid down certain first prin-
ciples that are as true today as in his
time, principles that may properly
form the basis Of the action of every
legislators and every educator In every
State and every community OF our
great Commonwealth. The jefferson
scheme in developing schools was:
D To give to every citizen the In.
formation he needs for the transae.
ton Of his own business;
(2) To enable him to calculate for
himself, and to express and preserve
his Ideas, his contracts and accounts.
In writing;
~ To improve. by reading, his
morals and faculties;
(4) To understand his duties to his
neighbors and country, and to dis
charge with competence the functions
eonfided to him by either;
5) To know his rights; to exer.
else with order and Justice those he
retains; to choose with discretion the
fidueiary Of those he delegates; and
to notice their conduct with diligence,
with candor and judgment;
10y And, In general, to observe
with intelligence and faithfulness all
the social relations under which no
shall be placed.
Coming down to the present day,
President Eliot of Harvard University
has given voice to an epitomy of mod
ern ideas on education for efficiency
that will always be timely. Eliot says:
THE debate over the proper selec-
ton of studies in youth has been a
long and wearisome one; but at last
two propositions are seen to command
almost universal acceptance. The first
Is. that children and young people
cradle variety OF subjects, such as Ian
guage, mathematics, history, natural
science, sanitation, and economics, not
with the primary purpose Of obtaining
Information on those subjects, but In
order that they may sample several
kinds of knowledge. initiate the mental
processes and habits appropriate to
each, and have a chance to determine
wisely in what direction their own in
dividual mental powers can be best APP
piled. The second is, that training for
power of work and service should be
the prime object of education through
out life, no matter in what line the
trained powers of the individual may
be applied. This measure of consent.
ing opinion frees me from the neces-
sity of discussing the relative values
OF different subjects OF study, and the
different meanings of the word culti-
walton, and enables me to ask your
attention at once to the fundamental
matters with which education for effi-
cheney should deal"
The immediate problem before the