The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-10-22
THE SCHOOLS OF HAWAII
SOLVING RACE PROBLEM

4 SSSAeIS AFTER every lLIlAS tNdt VIII I'M
prove them in body or in mind. There
| is rarely any question as to their am
bition and willingness to work; when
there is a failure it is usually due to
conditions beyond their control-the
| lack of ability or training sufficient
/ for the task, or TO inherited tendencies
| too strong to be overcome Among
our students it is now generally con-
| ceded that in every competition.
whether in the athletic field or in the
| classroom, or in contests in speaking,
| they are factors to be reckoned with"
| Principal Wood of the Normal school
! "a school housed in a most comely
structure-haS commended to me the
Chinese and the Chinese-Hawaiians
| both as students and teachers. The
Chinese Hawaiian mixture is one re-
ceived with much favor at the school,
teachers desk. The pure Chinese
teacher is in peril of over-severity; the
pure Hawaiian, Of over-indulgence. The
union of the two races gives force
without harshness and graciousness
without laxity. This union, too, seems
to be one which is bringing forth ex-
cellent results outside the schoolroom.
A comparison of the methods and
results of the public school of the
Hawaiian Islands and of the city of
San Francisco seems to be not a COM
parisOn, but a contrast. The reason
is not far to seek, at least in it's super
fetal relations. Be it said that the
Chinese who come to Hawaii are from
the same section, of China as those
who come to the Consideration and Its
province. The reason lies in the SIM
pie fact that on the islands the Chi
nese have been received with kind
ness and hospitality, and in early times
with official welcomes; on the main
land they have been received by many
of the people with suspicion, and aloof-
ness, with aversion, revulsion, and
finally with expulsion. The evidence
is that if the Chinese be given a fair
chance, he will prove himself worthy
of becoming an American citizen.
THE AMERICANIZING FORCE.
Honolulu bears testimony, in unique
and impressive and somewhat pro-
longed form, to the conclusion which
every foreigner-filied city of America
offers, viz, that the American public
school is the most Americanizing force.
What can and what shall transmute
the millions of peoples of alien blood
and strange customs and environ
ments, who are coming to the new
world every decade. into loyal and or
derly Americans? The church can do,
and does, much, The newspaper has
its value. The college and the social
settlement have a strong influence
within a small area. The "neighbor
hood" too, forms and areforms. But
the American people seem to have
come to the conclusion that to the
public school alone can be safely en-
trusted the work of this social con-
version. The city of Honolulu and the
island Territory of which it is the
capital, are giving most noble illus
tration of peaceful efficiency in the
of Asiatic and other
peoples.
Mr.. Scott, most acute observer,
and a social philosopher, from whom
I have already quoted, in a report
made to the Governor of the Territory, |
has said, writing of the Americanizing |
of the public schools: THE excellent |
system Of public schools, modernized |
and improved. is the fundamental |
agency by which the children of th& |
diverse nationalities of Hawaii are to |
be trained, reared and transformed |
into American citizenship.
Can it be done? The most thought
full educators of this Territory answer.
Yes. 1t is being done
now. 1t has been done. Both Chinese
and Japanese born and nurtured in
Hawaii are among our best citizens.
They hold and exercise the franchise.
they are Industrious, accumulate
property, are charitable, and law
abiding.
'"They seem to select and vote for,
is if by unerring instinct, the best
nan for office. The children of the
Territory meet in the schoolroom. the
playground, the church. the Sunday
'cnool. They sing the same patriotic
American songs. They read American
history and literature. The higher
trades are well instructed in the prin-
iples and practice of free government
national, State and Territorial. It is
he unanimous testimony of the teach
RS that no class of children respond
more readily and intelligently to both |
moral and intellectual instruction than
10 the Orientals.'
A Chinese, too, has said:
"Side by side with our American
rothers and sisters, our Chinese
Dung people walk upward. No caste, /.
10 class privileges equal to all. All
oors to the best and purest society in
Hawaii are opened to them, because
hey are prepared to do we'll and nobly
he part in life assigned to them, and
hey desire to make the world better
Or having lived in it,"
May it not be affirmed that the 1
chools of Hawaii have solved the race
roblem, at least for that island Ter
tory? q
MR. FAULKNER VISIT.