The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-03-23

Hundreds Of school teachers and a
few others gathered in the Hall of Re
representatives. last evening at the inyi-
tation Of the education committee OF
the House of Representatives, the occa-
sion being for the voicing of opinion in
regard to appropriations for public
instruction.
Honorable Ella Long, as chairman OF
the House education committee, pre-
sided. Intense interest was manifest
ed. 1t meant much to the teachers
whose small salaries were perhaps
threatened with a cut.
There was a lot of fine verbiage
more or less unintelligible statistics
and learned reference, mixed with some
ideas of importance, until Miss Agnes
Judd put a spirit into the meeting that
made everybody sit up and take notice
and the House committee on educa-
ton, during the few minutes of hef
remarks, probably learned more than
they had derived from all the careful
discourse that had preceded it. Miss
Judd's talk was human.
Some of us teachers are already be-
ginning to look forward to old age"
she said and then stopped for a deep
breath while a few very young teach
ers, hardly out of short skirts, gig
gled, and others popped their ears for
ward, feeling intuitively that red cor
puscle ideas were coming.
Miss Judd stated that she spoke for
the rank and file of the teachers, for
the great number who were receiving
less than $50 or $50 per month, mot
those who are receiving the princely
salaries of one hundred dollars a
month"
There were children here Of many
and various kinds, whom teachers not
only lad to teach, but train in the
commonest things that one might sup
pose would be taught then at home;
many were unruly and the lot Of the
bCdChCl was hllllCuiIs w helJ WOuiu biAS
honorable gentlemen of the Legisla-
ture do if child absolutely refused to
do what he Twas told? That was a
daily problem with the teacher. And,
please, how much of fifty dollars could
an honorable gentleman of the House
hope to save if he received only that
amount a month and had to pay for
food and clothes and everything else,
as do the teachers?
I'VE have to spend something for
clothes said Miss Judd, for if we
don't look tidy we get marked down"
She drew attention to the highest form
of training which had to be given the
children, other than book learning,
home training, and declared that if it
were not for the schools Hawaii would
not be fit to live in. Many teachers
supported others than themselves; they
didn't get any trips to the coast, either;
they couldn't take many such trips on
$50 per. 1t was hard to amass riches
on such a Salary" 1--WE can't teach
forever said the speaker, and those
who do the bulk of the work should
occasionally be recognized"
Miss Judd was enthusiastically APP
plauded.
Mrs. d. L. Wilmington spoke re-
marking that this Legislature was an
example of what education had done
for Hawaii, and further education was
all important. People abroad, some OF
them. still thought Hawaiians hall
barbarians; she had spread the gospel
of their being splendid people and she
hoped Hawaii would live up Ito the
bright PROSPECTS and give all the best
effort to education. Other women
spoke briefly and pertinently from the
teachers standpoint.
Representative Long called on Sup
erintendent of Public Instruction Bah