The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-10-23
HApAIIAl ARE
WELL. EDUCATED
COMPULSORY SYSTEM LONG
ESTABLISHED THERE-RE.
PORT OF BUREAU OF
LABOR.

---
WASHINGTON. Oct. %. From a
report on Hawaii Just issued by the
Bureau Of Labor it appears that the
Hawaiians as nation arc the best
educated people in the world, and that
even the State Of Massachusetts,
which outranks ali other States in
this country in lavish expenditure Of
money for the free education Of the
citizens, falls far behind the Territory
of Hawaii. Every Hawaiian under so
years Of age can read and write his
own language, and almost every young
Hawaiian under 81 can. in addition,
read and write and speak English. Ha-
vail, as a matter Of fact, has been
a hotbed of education for nearly 100
years. AS far back as 1920 Their ulers
CT Hawaii began urging their people
10 learn to read and write. At first
only the adults were provided with
means OF education, but about 1910 the
then ruling king Of Hawaii ordered
that all children must attend school,
and he saw to it that his orders were
ubeyed. There was splendid system
oil free schools in Hawaii, fully quar-
ter OF a century before American an.
nexation was even dreamed Of. A
planter named Bishop lied about 1860,
leaving all his wealth. which amount
ed to some s25,OOOcOO. to the govern
ment to be expended solely in provid'
ing free education for those who
could not pay for their tuition. This
fund has been expended by the author
tiles in Hawaii with scrupulous care.
None Of the kings of Hawaii, reckless,
extravagant and dtssipated gamblers
and debauchees that they were, ever
dared to inappropriate a penny OF
the Bishop school fund.
Hence, when Hawaii was annexed
and American officials took charge of
tho government, they found that the
school system, at least, could receive
no improvement. and, indeed, the Am
erican governor and his assistants re
gard themselves as fortunate to keep
up the school system of Hawaii to the
high standard that they existed under
the republic and under the monarchy.
Incredible as 1t almost seems, the
number of children of school age at
tending school is sc per cent. of all
the children on the island; Of the Ha-
waiians the proportion is 50 per cent.
and Of those children who are part
Hawaiians and part Portuguese or
part Japanese, or part Chinese or part
American, the percentage is actually
80, so that school attendance is we'll
nigh universal.
The American government in Ha-
wall finds in the japanese the one dis
turbing element. Not only are, the
adults restless and given to frequent
strikes, but the Japanese children on
the island form dangerous factor.
In addition to the free schools that are
provided, and which every Japanese
child attends, the japanese have es-
schools, which are open during the
summer recess of the public schools
end on every day when the American
schools have a holiday. These schools
are usually conducted in Buddhist
temple by the priest and his assist
ants. The purpose of these schools
is to keep alive in the children Japan
ese feelings and patriotism. In every
school there is picture of the Mi
kado, and that the United States gov
ernment is purely secondary con
sideration. Each school is, therefore
an un.American center of Japanese
loyalty, and the Bureau Of Labor n
it's report states very frankly that
there is grave danger that the, Amer
lean schools will be swamped.
SMALLER