The Hawaiian star., 1906-04-30
A. 7. Atkinson
And His Life Work

he welded as an educator
tenn of Iaa can be mentioned which does not bear way
the impress of his mind either originating vitang it. But no
of the individual achievements OF his career however
complete highly cedabc these would degree do
justice his wo without recognition and appreciation OF the
Keynote which all his endeayor atuncd-wihou recogn-
the prophetic ideal which he held throughout his OF
the vision OF the Hawaii OF the future which n1mned ms soul
is high praise to say OF man at he made nSsn e language
instruction in all the public schools OF these islands, that he made
the public school system free school system; that he created the
SCHOOL, that he rehabated Laanauna and the
path greater usefulness than has crowned its honorable
te of figst % these NAV all he said Of Aatau r. Atkinson
having worked them all alone for he would be the last
h credit from the many others who before him and with
him have done noble and honorable service
But after all these only the incidents OF his abor and his
He had otier vision Of what might be- and it was to
of progress we're accomplished.
He ioresaw the time when in the progress the world stage no
OF its vast activity The Mediterranean ample
stage the and activities OF the ancient world The mod
ern world required the larger Atlantic The Pacific whose toTa
poped with by far the larger portion Of the human race the
MIR Atkinson had keen vision Of this He had keen vision too OF
the great part Hawaii might play in this unfolding drama situated as
that play Hawaii must have PREPARATION 1t was to
prepare Hawaii highest possibilities that he set himself 1t
this ideal and this vision that unifes all the activities OF his life
1t correlates all his achievements.
For such possibilities he oresaw for Hawaii needful that
she world language No great destiny possible for
lated people speaking little known tongue having neither tera
tue vocabulary OF commerce or science Hence he set himself
give her the needed language and this the OF his long
srucon in the SGhoos-he language OF the land and all the m
thereof If Hawaii accomplish her high destiny every ia
snd % oppdTit She would need all her Strength and the
strength all her people To this her schools free that
daughter gifted with capacity help should be lost to the
country through failure cultivate those gifts Free schools teach
ing the English language opening to youth the treasure Anglo
Saxon speech and civilization required teaching body properly fit
trained Hence the normal school the school w
and every phase and feature of that system which could be adj
vantageouy added Nothing too good nothing undesirable
which could add to the efficiency the teaching nstrung body
in the islands which could bring to its highest usefulness every gift
of mind and Heart Of every teacher in the public schools
In such conception OF preparation the proper and training
the unfortunate and the defective portion Of the youth the land
juvenile offenders where hand well mind
and heart through the hand should be taught natural sequences
in his ideal Of preparation
Industrial training his mind vital part of any worthy
public instruction, incident of his administration of
school systemafer fundamentals English
free school syegaye him greater personal pleasure than the
To his mind the preparation which Hawaii high
destiny he pictured could not be secured unless her school system
touch with the wordet the breath OF going
elsewhere Hence his efforts for the summer and teach
by of For this cordial wei
coming teachers Of experience and enthusiasm from other countries
always be tna raised ng up from among our own people, knowing
But Mr. merely through the school
system He educator through the and from the plat
form And in this in his strictly educational work he
done and wrought prepare Hawaii for her destiny 1t is this
that hamOnzes his political and journalistic work and energies with
his school work Each parts unity of purpose Hawaii
must along all lines of advancement she reach
place had dreamed for her Hence when reactonay policies
seemed him halt her in that progress he turned
politician work with others such policies and to sub
tue for reaction and eogreon advancement and progress
Convinced that circumstances had inevitably linked the destiny OF
Hawaii with that Of the United States America he wrought
Abandoning time his duties school
took the editorial and through the medium Of journalism did
master work or annexation him more than to other one
it is due that during the long period of waiting which followed
first enthusiastic hopes of annexation determination
HaWans fortunes with those OF America, never iatered
No real appreciation Of Aatau Tamchibouac Adnsons life
work. Of what he sought and what he accomplished be felt
his work viewed in the light OF its large and ultimate purpose En-
Enthusiastically fond OF Hawaii he believed possible for achieve
destiny the animatng ideal Of his life
every incident of round OF achievement which, considered alone