The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-02-27
PUTS TIE BURDEN
on LITTLE ONES

Editor Advertiser: "More and bet
ter teachers are constantly in demand, -
says Superintendent Rabbit The best
teachers obtainable should be employed
and then paid salaries commensurate
| with the Importance of the grand up
| lifting work they are engaged in carry
ing on for the welfare of the children.
/ 1t is, however, certainly idle to expect
| the best results under the present fnan-
clal straits in which the Board of
again that honorable body is appealing
to the teachers to help out in overcom-
ing deficit. The teachers, so to speak,
are again cup against it - as they were
some few years since, when their then
existing salaries, though small, were cut
twenty per cent, amounting to between
five and six thousand dollars monthly.
Much of this heavy burden is still car
ried by the teachers, save in the cases
of some of the highest salaried. such as
the principals of the High and Normal
schools, etc, assistant teachers and a
special music teacher, who have sue
ceeded in having their salaries restored
to their former pay before the cut or
dered by Governor Carter
This reduction to the rank and file of
the teachers still prevails and teachers
are on a "handto-mouth' basis, try
ing to make good that deficit which at
one time was so great as to bid fair to |
put the Territorial government out of |
commission financially, so it was re-
ported at the time AS the teachers
salaries were submitted to such rigid |
pruning (twenty per cent? for spe |
cifc purpose, to make good a shortage in |
government funds; and that particular |
period long since having passed, com
mon Justice would now seem to demand |
that the powers that be set in opera
ton business-like methods to effect the |
restoration of the former schedule of |
paid teachers.
AS has been stated, the school author
tiles are once more in the throes of a |
financial difficulty and now confront |
the teachers of certain schools with the |
to take over the janitorial
work heretofore performed by a corps |
of paid employees. In their wisdom,
however, they would exempt the larg
est schools, such as the High and Nor
nal, from this drudgery, where the prln-
cipals and assistants are the best paid,
and throw the burden of janitOr s work
upon teachers of schools having only |
small children and less pay.
Pupils of the larger schools are just |
as able, and in fact more able. to sweep
the floors of the rooms and yards daily,
run lawn mowers, use pick axes and do
he necessary hoeing and pulling of
weeds, trimming lawns, irrigating trees,
plants and lawns, washing windows,
1oors and porches, gathering up leaves,
papers and other rubbish, as the little
OTIS comprising the pupils of the schools
lot included in the list of those to be
allowed .janitors. Schools having only
primary classes, where the pupils are all
ntirely too small to perform such
Ieavy mental labor, certainly need jan
tors, while those schools which are
cheduled to be allowed to retain their
anitOrs have young ladies and gentle
zen far more able physically to per-
orm such drudgeTy than the little ones
pom whom it is suggested to impose
uch heavy work. It has been given out
hat in the country schools pupils do
he janitorial work. When it is under
TODD that the attendance of such
ehools often includes all grades and 9
upils of all ages, from six to sixteen :
ears in each shool. then it is readily
zen how these larger pupils are always
valuable to perform their pro rata of !.
ork required, providing their parents |
0 not forbid their participation IN
lch labor. as is seldom the case.
The children of our city schools need
he same kindly consideration as do
lose in the country. There the smaller
lildren. such as some of the schools !
this city are wholly made up of, are !
ever required, much less expected, TO
, janitorial service. Why then should
icy be requisitioned by teachers OF
hools where there are no pupils sutf
emily old to do the exaeting labor IN
any instances necessary to perform
ie various kinds of tasks required on
| the many school premises Of TINS
ty9 -.
Would it not be better to place all
hools on the same level and thus
-oid even the appearance of favoring +
lie school with or against anOther7 l1