Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1906-03-24
LATEST SCHOOL EXHIBIT

Extended dissertations on the rela.
tive Importance OF teachers and JAM.
tors cannot tell half the story of the
condition of the public schools that is
related in the brief and spicy letter
OF the "Mystifled Mother" published
in this issue.
Heretofore the principal attention in
correction with the shortcomings OF
the appropriations devoted to the pub.
lie schools has been centered 'on the
miserably low salaries paid deserving
teachers. Now comes a practical ex.
perience demonstrating that there is
not accommodation for the children
who apply. This is a state OF affairs
indeed, and well might the mother
wonder whether the Stars and Stripes
have lost any of their emblematlc bril-.
lance and civilizing power in these
Islands Of the Pacific. II is an old
story to repeat that the condition Is
dissraceful, but nevertheless true.
Honolulu undoubtedly has the best
school houses, the largest. and as q
general rule the best, teachers. though
they are kept on short rations. Yet
well built as these schoOl.houses are
and roomy as they may be, the school
equipment Is so limited that children
are forced TO roam the public streets
or attend a private school. all because
the money of the taxpayers has been
handled with such little regard for the
educational demands.
This woman's letter also brings TO
notice a common error. Superintend.
ent Rabbits ability TO build school
house for the little Molokans she puts
down as a piece OF Official incompe-
tence on his part. As a matter of fact,
Il all Teyerts back to legislative intel
ligence, and on the other Islands II is
looked upon as real intelligence. As
3 was noted by recent writer in the
Garden Island. the Legislators made
their appropriations specific. Instead
OF appropriating a lump sum for
school-houses, to be expended by exec.
utiye officers as seemed to them best,
the Legislators set aside certain spe-
cifc sums TO be spent on re1a..s D.. =
new construction OF school houses OF
the respective Islands. Thu vcN"'l
house might be needed In Honolulu JU.
the Oahu appropriation LJ,cg C-h-I
ed makes II impossible 10 do the work.
The Kauai appropriation, LowcYtG
might have an ample balance, - thr'
the little Molokans could have thsi:
school house Notwithstanding heir ne
cessities might be less pressing.
These appropriations are so arranged
tina. they cannot be shuffled, and In
the general scheme OF government II
is well that this is So.
The great difficulty is that a Legisla'
ture meeting once in two years cannot
foresoe all the demands of each dis.
trict for the two years ahead. Add 10
this a desire or necessity to cut ex-
pense everywhere, and the whole thing
is accounted for, though II Is just as
much of disgrace to the community
as II II were impossible OF explanation.
Should the Superintendent of Public
Instruction draw on the Kauai appro-
priation for the Honolulu schools, Ka.
uai would cry out that he ought to be
in Jail, and we know of nothing but
the goodwill Of the judge and jury
that would head him off, II Kauai once
got after him.
The mystery is indeed easily solved
when one is brought TO understand the
wonders of a centralized government
which is neither elastic nor effective.
and works on the theory that suit OF
clothes cut today for growing youth
should continue to At him for the fol
lowing two years. Comparing the Ha.
wall system of school finance with
such youth, its suit is already split
in the back, short in the sleeve, frayed
around the edges bagged at the