The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-02-06
NEW WORK
IN SCHOOLS

in the Honolulu public schools have
agreed to take up the matter Of manual
training in the public schools, in ad-
dition to their other work The move
ment has grown out of the following
letter addressed to the teachers by su-
perntendent OF Public Instruction
Babbitt. prior to his recent trip to
Maui:
To the Teachers in Honolulu: The
managers of the Boys Brigade have
offered to the Department. free OF
charge, the use OF the Manual Trade
School located on King street, just
beyond the railway station. The only
expense attached will be the keeping
In repair of the tools and material
used. This expense the Department is
willing to assume II the teachers are
enough interested In the work to make
1t an object.
The funds at the disposal of the De-
partment will not allow the engage
ment of trained manual teacher tol
superintend the work. 1t does not
seem wise to take UP the work there
outside of regular school hours.
At a meeting of most of the prin-
| cipals, II was thought best to send
| letter to the various teachers in Ho-
| nolulu, explaining to them a little of
| the plan. and to ask them to make
| direct reply to the Department as to
| their desire and willingness to under
take this work.
The Department is well aware of the
amount of work required of the teach
ers and 1t does not intend to obligate
or even urge the proposed work; but
| If there are teachers who are suffi-
| ciently interested and who can afford
| to give the time and energy to IT. 1t
is certainly an exceptional opportunity
| for starting the work.
As we can not hire a trained teach
| er, il will be necessary for the teach
| ers in different schools to oversee the
work undertaken by the children. In
order that they may do this intelli-
gently, Mr.. Pope of the Normal School
has agreed to conduct class for teach
ers on Tuesday and Thursday after
| moons, from three to four, at the Nor
nal School. In this class, he will give
teachers such instruction as will fit
them to take up the work with students
in an elementary way.
AS soon as teachers have enough ex-
perience, classes of from ten to twelve
| may be formed in different schools, and
periods arranged whereby classes may
| go to the Manual Trade School for
| work
Will you kindly reply to the Depart
ment at once, stating just what would
be your own views and wishes in re-
| tn IN
mind that this is optional and not re
quired: but please let us have repl.
as soon as convenient.
Yours very respectfully.
(Signed) w. II. BABBITT,
Superintendent of Public Instruction
To this letter replies were received
various in character but for the mos
part favorable, and the matter wa!
taken up at a meeting of the proposed
class at the Normal School Thursday
| afternoon. There were some nineteeT
teachers present at the first meeting
but this number Is expected to be in
creased at subsequent meetings OF tn,
class. 1t will meet, by the way, ever.
Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, a
4:30, at the Normal School and afte
the teachers have received their cours
of instruction and begin to get lin
on the work. they in turn will pass tn
knowledge on to the pupils, and tn
very important educational feature o
teaching the children to work witt
their hands will become a regular par
of the public schools course In Ha
wall. There has to be sure, been SOM
work done along these lines already
but nothing at all commensurate will
the Importance of the matter. Tn
technical training and manual train
ing schools on the mainland have at
tained to such proportions of late year
that scholars are actually fitted 70
life's battles in them, and go righ
from the schools to factorie
and workshops, earning better pay thai
! many older workmen because thei
training has been so thorough.
A.S.-