The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-06-26
A PEOAGOG QUESTIONS
THE TEACHING METHODS
Country teacher Says There Is Something
Wrong--Masons May Lay Cornerstone
of HIIo High School,

What is the matter with the methods
Of instruction in the common schools of
the Territory of Hawaii? is, in brief,
the substance of a series of questions
propounded to the Department of Edu-
cation by teacher NJ. j. Soares of the
Pahoa. Hawaii, school. In a letter to
the Department of Education this coun-
tryside pedagog complains that the
pupils in the schools do not understand
book language and are unable to grasp
its meaning. although they do well
enough in the school room when it
comes to reading line by line.
The letter was submitted to the Board
of Commissioners of the Department of
Education at its meeting yesterday
afternoon and was filed without any
action or notice being taken of the com
munication. The commissioners thought
the letter was vague and ambiguous
and they were at a loss to know just
what Pedagog Soares was driving at
The letter was as follows:
Pahoa, June II, 1906.
To the Sup't. of Public Instruction, Ho-
noluiu-
Dear Mr.. Rabbit:
Enclosed herewith, please find my re-
port for term ending June Is, 1906
I hereby beg leave to say, that if you
can find time to give me a hearing, [
shall show you that the pupils in the
ing properly taught.
Among other things. I will show:
l. That pupils do not read naturally.
2. That they do not understand what
they read about.
8. That they cannot substitute nouns
for pronouns in their reading lessons.
4. That punctuation is not receiving
the attention it's Importance demands.
5. That pupils cannot use words in
sentences OF their own making in the
sense that they are used in the lesson.
6. That no effort is made to ascer-
tain whether or not pupil understands
the language of problems in arithme-
tic
Hoping to receive a favorable reply.
L remain,
Your humble servant,
NJ. J. SOARES,
Pahoa, Hawaii
A petition of residents in the vicinity
of the school presided over by Mr..
Swain on Hawaii. that he be dismissed,
was practically consigned to the waste
basket. Although the matter was, for
mally. set over for Inspector Kings at
tention on Hawaii, for a report, yet the
commissioners are of the opinion that
the complaint does not warrant action
at all.
A letter from F. A. Richmond, prin-
cipal of the Hilo High school, was re-
ceived relative to a request that the
Masons of Hilo be permitted to lay the
corner stone of the new Hilo High
School superintendent Rabbit rang
up Governor Carter to ascertain his
views on the subject. That official said
that if the request came from the Ma
sons it would be all right. Mr.. Rich
mond viii be informed of this view of
the matter by the next mail.
the Moanalua school for night school
was granted.
The following recommendations from
the Teachers Committee We're acted
upon favorably;
That applications of Mrs. A. NJ. Mann,
Miss Kinney Miss Boswell, Mr.. Bright
well. Mrs. Wong, Mrs. Macdonald, Mr..
Mookini. be placed on file.
That life diploma be granted Miss
Claypool.
That Miss de Carmo be granted leave
Of absence for the fall term.
That designations of Mrs. Clement
and Miss Harriet Coan be accepted.
Requests of Mrs. Mesick and w. L.
Clark be placed on file.
That Miss Yoder and Miss Gault, be
notified of arrangements for next year
That honorary life certificates for Mr..
and Mrs. Amalu be granted.
The following circular letter from San
Francisco was received:
May 21st, 1906.
To State superintendent:
Almost Immediately upon the news
of the great catastrophe which befell
san Francisco on the 18th of April.
1906 the superintendent of Schools re-
ceived the following telegram from
Galveston, Texas:
"A Roncovieri. Supt. Public Schools.
San Francisco. Cal.
Galveston public schools were re-
built and maintained after the storm
of 1900 bv voluntary contributions from
the school children of the United States.
VIII you accept contributions from Gal
weston school children to aid in restor-
tho z-o,1r p,IbIic schools? Answer.
Il. LOVENBERG.
''Supt of Schools.
''JNO W. HOPKINS.
Pnar1