The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1905-03-23
ATKINSON ON SCHOOL WORK
THE sUPERNTENDENr PUBL INSTRUCTION EXPLAINS TIN
WORKINGS on THE DEPARTING NT LENGTH THE
REPAIRS SCHOOL pRopERT y REPORTED or AND ACCOM-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

Superintendent of Public instruction
continued his statement yesterday af-
ternoon at the hearing In the Bunga-
low before A. +. Judd, giving further
details Of the duties OF his Office.
He expressed the opinion that a
desirable change In the laws
would be one which would make the
department like the attorney generals
or Public Works department, but said
that personally as head Of the depart
ment, he preferred having a board Of
commissioners to consult with.
As to sale Of school books, Atkinson
said they were only sold to parents Of
pupils IN the public schools. He had
tried to get rid Of the school books and
thought it would be best to have pu-
pills buy their own books from the reg
ular dealers.
Regarding the change from one In
spector General TO three. Superinten-
dent Atkinson said:
1.-The new system is unquestionably
tie better one. and it has worked well
and tremendously. / have had no
complaints against any Of our inspec-
cerned the plan kept them under the
constant watching Of school agents,
with occasional visits from inspectors.
As to the accounts of the Department
Atkinson stated that it was his duty to
report to the governor the needs Of his
department and then to keep keen
watch to see that the sums set apart
lasted through the period they were
intended to cover.
"Who has charge of the repairing Of
schoolhouses?"
at depends upon what we are able
to allow the various districts" said
the Superintendent. I'VE allow each
district wat it needs or can have.
None Of the money passes through our
hands. 1t is drawn through the au-
ditors office. The school agent is the
first officer who signs the voucher, say
ing the work has been done and l have
to take the word of such agents that
the work has been done. Upon his
thus vouching for the amount, 1 sign
my approval and the draft is made
and sent to whom did the work Look
ing after the work is a part Of the
"How are the teachers appointed
Mr.. Atkinson?"
"By the Commissioners and myself"
How are they removed?"
"They may be suspended by joint ac-
ton Of a school agent and inspector.
The teacher may appeal to the COM
missioners and the matter is heard and
Investigated and the teacher is either
| reinstatated or otherwise. Perhaps
sometimes it is a mere disability of
| temper i'm some particular locality and
a transfer is the remedy. 1 have such
a case before me at this time"
do you think 1t would be best for
the department to require public in
designations of teachers conduct before
| they may be removed"
q most certainly do not" was the
reply. Atkinson said that I'm his OPT
Mon to make rule requiring that
teachers could not be removed without
public hearing as to competency etc,
would be absurd"
Judd wanted to know what checks
existed on the expenditure Of money
that was available for improvements,
| ana now the necessity Oh IIldhlnB llll-
provements was determined.
The reply was that the decision was
based upon reports Of school agents
and inspectors. Neither could pro-
coed without securing authority from
the superintendent. In large mat
tiers the latter consulted the Board Of
Education though the law did not re-
quire it. Larger matters were handled
without consulting them. The Homo
lulu school district had been generally
administered by verbal discussions and
i'm many cases there had been no writ
ten communications authorizing work.
Atkinson thought that the statutes
on the subject of education were ade-
quate, but that the department needed
more clerical assistance. There is a
vast amount of work, he said. and even
the demands Of time made by the
events which have led to the present
| investigation have caused a falling be-
hind in work that needed doing.
Reference was made to the various
exhibits made by the school depart
ment, at the Philadelphia, Omaha, Pa
ris and Buffalo expositions and in reply
to questions Atkinson It'd of medals
and diplomas received as a result. "a