The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-02-24
THE QUESTION is, TEACHERS
DR. JAN|TORS?

| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1I5.0o
2...................... 10000
Three hundred and fifty-nine out Of
435 teachers receive less than $1,000 a
| month. Over e. per cent. receive less
than $4,000 a month. Over % per cent.
receive less than $4,000 a month. More
than 10 per cent. receive less than $4,000
a month.
That we can get teachers at all under
these conditions seems to me remarka-
BILE, and that teachers are willing to
put in the energy and effort they do
under these conditions is still more
remarkable, and only the absolute need
of more teachers to properly operate
more schools would make the follow
ing suggestion in any way pardonable.
LET CHILDREN WORK.
The suggestion is that the force Of
janitors in Honolulu schools be in some
cases greatly reduced and in other
cases entirely cut off. The plan l
herewith submit is that one janitor
each be left Kaahumanu, Kaiulani.
Normal. High and Royal schools and
helpers at the Pohukaina, Kaakopua,
Maemae, Kauluwela and Kalihiwaena
schools at a salary of $3.50 per month
for all. That would net us a saving
of $222.50 per month or for the balance
of the biennial period $3.50 which
amount could be applied in obtaining
new teachers
While the loss of janitors in theory
places the work on the children, in
reality it makes additional work for
the teacher. 1t would seem, however,
that under such financial difficulties as
now exist, loyalty to the schools on
the part of the children who are re-
ceiving much for little might be count
ed on to solve the difficulty.
The further carrying out of the sug-
gestion would be that the janitors who
are retained should do all the heavy
work at the schools mentioned and
should also assist in the other schools
That on Saturdays prisoners should be
sent by the High Sheriff for the more
thorough cleaning and scrubbing work
With such aid the work of the chill
dren should be neither very extensive
nor onerous.
This matter is respectfully submitted
to the board for consideration.
(Sgd.) w H BABBITT.
Superintendent of Public Instruction
! COUNTY MIGHT PAY.
The reading of this communication
brought up for action a matter which
had been unofficially debated over for
some time
Would not the County Supervisors
pay for the support of the janitors
out Of their surplus funds?" asked
Commissioner Harrington, who added
! that it was county business to help in
/ the upkeep of the school buildings
II have not asked them,' responded
the superintendent, for when l asked
for support on other propositions they
cut me off so short" and Mr.. Rabbit
drew his hand under his ear to show
how very short the cut off had been.
Mr.. Harrington thought that the Su-
pervisors should be asked officially to
help. Let them refuse if they want
| to. If they do the people will then
know where to put the blame. The
people they represent are the ones in
terested in this matter
All the members concurred in the
sentiments SO expressed, and a formal
| motion to send a copy of the commune
cation to the Supervisors with the
necessary comments and to table the
communication in the meantime was
made by Mr.. Won Holt, seconded by
Mr. Harrington and passed.
SICKNESS ON KAUAI
An outbreak of diphtheria on Kauai
was reported in a letter from one Of
the teachers there, who refused to con-
tinue her duties at the Mukawili
school and wanted to have it closed
for the time being. The Kalaheo
school has already been closed on ac-
count of the disease. A report from
local physician declaring the danger
from contagion to be none was also
read. The superintendent reported
hot I,,c.r d
over to make an investigation.
Miss Helen Robertson was given the
appointment of principal of the Moi
liili school, her place. to be filed by
Miss Chin Kow, now teaching al Aiea,
salary to be the same as at present
Miss Robertson will receive $50 per
month.
Letters from F.. NJ. Hatch and Dele
gate Kalanianaole were read conveying
the refusal of the government to allow
teachers on vacation to travel on the
transports to the Coast to attend train
ing schools.
NO MONEY TO BUY.
A report from Inspector H M. Wells
regarding the crowded state of the Ha-
makuapoko school was presented One
of the rooms there was used by so
children, necessitating two halliday
sessions. He reported that the kinder
garten building on Haiku plantation
could be bought for $50. H. A Bald
win. the planta ton manager, had Of
fered the school a fifty-foot strip of
land to enlarge the grounds and asked
if a deed was needed. He will be ask
ed to forward the deed.
1t was decided that the school build
ing offered was a good one, but there
was no appropriation unless it was
bought as new building 1t was fl
nalIy decided to authorize the super |
intendent to buy the building and to !
arbitrate the matter of ways and |
means win the auditor