The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-06-11
MANY GRADUATES
At THE NORMAL
Largest Class in School History
viii Receive Certificates
of Standing.

The graduating class at the Normal
School this year viii be the largest in
the history of the school. A part of
the class viii receive certificates, rep
resenting three years OF academic work
and two years of teaching; and the
rerna inder of the class viii be awarded
diplomas, representing four years Of
academic work and three years Of
teaching. Nine or ten of the present
class receiving certificates will remain
an additional year and secure diplo-
mas, while the remainder of the class
will go out into actual teaching.
The teaching in the various grades
of the training school, on the closing
day, will emphasize the general meth
DDS and principles employed in the
teaching of Nature study. In the low
er grades the plants and animals will
be taught simply from the standpoint
of their own interest; the relation of
the creature to its environment its
friends and enemies, and above ali, the
large, important facts of its life his
tory are the points that are chiefly
dwelt upon. The dragon-fy and the
bean are used as types in this work
and the child gains a comprehension of
the manner in which they live their
lives.
A little higher in the grades the point
of view gradually Celebrates itself.
The honey bee and the pigeon are
studied both from their own standpoint
and also from that of their relation
and value to man; and this naturally
develops into the study of the simple
agricultural industries. Emphasis will
be placed upon some of our secondary
industries, such as sisal culture, cocoa
nut raising and fishing as it is carried
on in the Hawaiian Islands. The study
of an industry leads naturally to a
geographical view point, and for this
reason the work in the next two higher
grades is distinctly commercial geogra-
ply, namely the fishing and the dairy
industry. The grade work concludes
with a series of Tours around the
World giving a general summary Of
the geography work, especially in re-
lation to commerce and the great lines
of travel.
The Normal lesson will be a develop
ment of the idea of experimentation
and investigation. some common gar
den plants and insects being used as
terials, apparatus, lesson plans, and
subject matter in connection with the
grade work and an exhibit of mathe-
NAUTICAL apparatus, models, and mate
rails will illustrate the use of such
materials in making vivid and real to
the pupil the various mathematical
principles that he is learning to apply.
A sewing class will be in operation,
which will show the work as it is
actually carried on in the grades and
normal department, the fundamental
idea in the sewing work of the school
being to relate it directly to the actual
needs of the pupils.
There will be a class in lace work
and a sale of lace: class instruction in
cooking and an exhibition and sale of
products, and in addition to the general
exhibition of woodwork there will be a
special exhibit of fine cabinet work of
koa tables, bookcase, etc.
With all this manual and Industrial
teaching a great effort is made to link
the educational work and actual needs
closely together. The staff realizes
that the school in order to be efficient |
must be in vital touch with daily life |
The school must act, not on the sup
position that its pupils are TO become |
geniuses, but that they are to become, |
as the majority actually do, ordinary |
and it must make their lives |
richer and fuller. 1t is this idea that |
he closing lessons of the Normal /
School is endeavoring to make con-
,rete.