The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-10-06
OVER THE TEACCPS.
BY Lady Gay.

Of his type. 1t always interests
me to read the occasional university
returns, enumerating the number of
students who work during the summe,
! to secure enough money for their win
ter tuition. | understand they lose ne
caste whatever among the other stud
ents"
Caste does not exist in the Amer.
lean schools and universities" I an.
swered
Except among some of the very
wealthy, l suppose interrupted the
professor.
Yes, but it is not general, even
among them. A student who becomes a
waiter or tramway driver, or a book
agent, to earn his tuition money is
judged exactly as is any other stud
ents. If he is a good fellow he is popu-
lar; if not, he suffers exactly as any
/ other unpopular student.
THAT word caste has a most dis.
tasteful sound to Americans" unused
the professor. They seem to associate
with all the concentrated wickedness
of mankind"
: ut is stamped out of the children at
the very start of their education" I
said.
THE public school system does it,"
by public schools you mean what
we in England call board schools"
queried the professor.
Yes" l answered. More than 90
per cent. of American children attend
board schools, or, as they call them
here, public schools"
That is the primary cause of Amer
1cas greatness, so many Americans
nave told me, - said the professor. 81
wonder, wonder"
mo American will listen to an argu.
ment on the subject" 1 said. ct is
part of his nature to believe so. With.
out the huge board school system that
extends all over the country America
would be a second-rate nation, if the
Americans are to be believed"
1t undoubtedly has done a magni-
ncient work. said the professor.
Regarded as a question of averages.
the success is splendid, but averages
are deceitful. Many Americans have
suffered because of the board school
system
Don't advance such an argument ~,
public platform here" I said, cor
you VIII be mobbed."
l should not care to run the risl, -
SAID the professor But the fact 70.
mains, just the same. The children
VINO attended the American board
schools from good homes are sacri.
heed for the benefit of the children
who receive no care at home. l have
seen many instances of it,"
81 don't understand what Won mean e"
l said.
why, it is obvious" answered the
professor Children at school are edu-
Gated by themselves fully as much as
they are by their teachers. In their
association together, in their games,
they receive selfinstruction in the
mass. A general average is struck
among them all, and while undoubted-
ly the ones who receive little home
care are raised to a slightly higher
level, the better children are dragged
down to meet that same level, which
is not as high as their own"
THAT idea does not seem to have
occurred to the average American" l
said.
Eyes, it has" answered the profess
sor, "but he dismisses it with a sheer
at class distinctions. He is perfectly
willing that his children shall mix
with those who are below them in
everything that constitutes home cul-
ture, for otherwise he would believe
himself afflicted with that awful
disease, caste"
you mean he deliberately sacrifices
his children?" / asked.
There is no doubt in the world
that he does sacrifice Them" said the
professor. "But it is the lesser Of two
sacrifices. If he did not offer up his
children to leaven the general mass a
little he would have to sacrifice his
own adherence of everything associat-
ed with class"
"You believe there is no real ideal
associated with the American educa-
tional SYSTEM" I Intercepted.