Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-03-31
EDUCATIONAL INVESTIGATION.

II may perhaps characterize the sit.
uation as resembling that of a respect.
able old business house that needs to
be shaken up and modernized." This
Is the conclusion of the report of A. f.
Judd, personal representative of the
Governor in investigating the Depart
ment of Public Instruction.
1t seems hardly necessary for the
Bulletin to suggest to its readers that
this paper believes the conclusions Of
Mr.. Judd fully justified. Mr.. Judd says
In little different language what the
Bulletin has remarked and reiterated
from time to time in connection with
this very important Department of the
Governments Department on which
80 much of the future OF this Territory
depends.
AS far as Superintendent Atkinson
Is concerned, no one has ever said or
believed that his dealings of financial
nature were under suspicion. If there
were any Irregularities Of this kind In
the Department they were the result
of Indifference Of himself or other re-
sponsible officers, - an Indifference
which in a general way brought about
the condition which Mr.. Judd expresses
in q nutshell.
A perusal of Mr.. Judd's report con.
vinces any fair-minded person that the
Governor was not only justified in call
ing for the resignation of Mr.. Atkin-
son, but that the Department would
have been in a very serious condition
had the lax management that prevail
ed oe.A allowed to continue. II the
children OF this Territory are to keep
pace with the times they must Ger
tainly be well equipped from the
schools. II lax management charac-
terizes the school department at tho
source Of authority 1t is only matter
OF a short period when the indifference
will be a daily reality all along the
line.
Mr.. Judd appears from his report to
have gone into the matter with pur'
pose single to gaining knowledge OF
the facts and desire to be as kindly
as possible in his Interpretation Of the
situation. He has given the Depart
ment of Public Instruction the benefit
of the doubt on every occasion where
1t eemed to him justified. His report
may not satisfy those who attacked
the Department in a spirit Of spite, but
II Is a clear outline which fully salts
fes those whose only wish Ia that
those In ONCE shall be dealt with fair
ly and the Department of Public In
struction be kept at the highest stand
ard of efficiency at all times.
Mr.. Atkinson cannot evade the re
sponsibility for details OF mismanage
ment In the local Office. His duties arr
largely administrative, and II each OF
ficer is to be his own Independent
boss" of public instruction II would b.
better to divide the whole thing up ant
wipe out the head. At the same time
this report does not and We know o
none who desires to rob Mr.. Atkinson
of the honor due him for good worl
done through long service when tn
educational system Of the islands wa
taking on the shape which finally CAV
II strong character.
Mr.. Judd Is to be congratulated OF
the thoroughness with which he ha
done his work. The impression of tn
community has been that he woul
deal leniently with the Department L
the extent of evading issues that hav
been considered important. His re
view of the situation not only show
what exists. but pointedly suggests t
the people the vital importance OF ha'
ing an officer at the head of the De
partment who will by example and pre-
cept be an inspiration TO hard work
attention to detail, and progress al
along the line.