Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-12-11
CHANCES FOR BOYS TO WORN
IN H0NOLTH.
Editor Honolulu Star-Bulletfn.

Editor Honolulu Star-Bulletin,
Sir:-Anyone who cares to take the
trouble to look into the social and
labor conditions here is likely 10 meet
with many surprises. many of which
are not only agreeable but quite inter-
esting .a...
For instance, most people are of the
opinion that there are but few chances
Tor boys in this city TO learn any bus
mess that is worth while; but with
the exception OF the machine shops.
banks and trust companies the con-
trary is the case.
In all other lines OF business, good
honest. intelligent boyS-boys who are
not afraid of work. or OF getting their
hands or clothes dirty. are in demand
In fact. one is surprised to. learn OF
the number of positions open to the
white boys Of this city. but, strange
to say, they are not 10 be had, and,
in consequence, Chinese and japanese
boys are taken on.
There are many reasons given for
this state of things, all of which may
be more or less true In the first
place, society is blamed, because il
is we'll known that it looks down with
contempt upon the laboring class.
The parents of these boys are also
blamed because they. as a rule, think
more of moneymaking or pleasure
than of training their children in the
way they should go -.
The schools are blamed because
they attempt TO fill the minds of the
children with many subjects. that can
be of little use in the practical affairs
of life, and neglect to teach. them
anything about the great usefulness
and dignity of labor.
The boys themselves are blamed. be-
cause they have no ambition, or any
idea of the great purpose of life, and
because their minds seem TO run to
style in clothes, and to sports and
games of all kinds.
1t is also thought that this being a
tourist resort, and so many seem to
live life of idleness, the boys think
they must do likewise; but they for
get that these tourists have most like
lily spent a lifetime in hard work. and
are here only on vacation. ......
| There are many remedies proposed
for this unfortunate state of affairs.
The first and most important is the
proposition to teach the children
some kind of trade while at school,
and which is being advocated by
many of the. teachers of the public
schools, ..s-s-ts.. . .
A man in the livery stable business
suggests that a school be opened for
the training of boys to drive and to
care for horses. He claims that but
few men know how toxdrive horse
or team of horses, and that it's a
shame to see the way these poor
dumb animals are treated -.
But what seems to be wanted above
everything are carpenters and If a
school were opened for teaching that
trade alone great good would be ac-
Icomplished. 81
I OF course, il the trades are to be
taught in the public schools many diff
ferent trades could be taught, both
for girls and boys; but 1t is thought
/ that not less than half the time should
be given to learning the trade, as
many persons consider that more i'm
portant than education ...-
| In the old time it was considered a
crime to neglect to teach the children
some useful work, and even the sons
tof the rich had to learn some useful
trade. Yours very truly,
| - GEO OSBORNE