The Hawaiian gazette., 1912-03-05
AVN OF THE HILO
BOARDING SCHOOL
Principal Explains That Object Is.
Not to Turn Out Trained
Mechanics, and Why.


LsC. Lyman contributes TO the gem
oral discussion of tho educational sys-
tenn in Hawaii in the following letter
addressed to the editor Of the Hilo
Tribune:
Considerable discussion has taken
place lately in your paper, as wen as
in the Honolulu papers, regarding tho
value of industrial education in these
Islands, with the consensus of opinion
that the training now being given is of
little value in fitting boys for trades.
men.
"Allow me to say for the Hilo Board
ing School that while we give training
in carpentry, blacksmithing, etc, it is
not with the object of turning out
finished mechanics. This would not be
possible considering the comparatively
short time that may be devoted to this
work in school ana also considering the
age at which the boys usually go out
from the institution. The work done
in the trades gives boy good start,
one that will help him to progress
rapidly when he undertakes to engage
in these occupations, or even if he goes
into some other line of work the train
ing IN industrial lines will not be amiss.
Let me cite case. One of our bows
has for number of years been en-
gagged in clerical work. Recently he
desired to put up home for himself.
He was able to complete this at cost
of $500 instead of $3.50 by using the
knowledge he had gained in his shop
work here, doing the work in spare
time after his daily work was com
pleted
However, our main endeavor along
industrial lines, has been to fit our boys
to follow agricultural pursuits. A
knowledge of carpentry, blacksmithing
and leather work, sufficient, at least, to
make ordinary repairs on fences, build
ings, to repair farm implements and
harnesses, etc, is almost indispensable
to the successful small farmer.
''This is an agricultural country and
our young men should be encouraged to
60 into this line Of work.
'Small farming, especially in this
part of the Island, as so far tried, has
know we can raise sugar cane. Now
why not train our youths for this work
and offer such inducements as will
make them wish to take up this work.
Experience has proved that but few
of the. young men born and raised in
the country, stay on the plantations to
hoe cane, and why? Is it not because
they can make more at something elsef
- W.
enough to want to make all the money
they can. Now, although they may not
go and hoe cane for the plantations,
they are willing to do it for themselves
and sell their cane to the plantations
when they are assured of reasonable
profit in so doing. This is already be-
ing tried by a number of young men
who have gone out from this institution
and will be more and more if the proper
inducements are offered.
"The movement on foot by the fed
eral experiment station to establish a
sugar chemist here in Hilo to render
assistance to the small planters is an
object that should receive the hearty
support of all, as a help toward the
solution of the labor question here in
Hawaii.
"Advice from an impartial party
will give the small planter a feeling of
fair recognition and engender greater
harmony between him and the planta-
ton with which he is dealing.
g For just such farm life ms this
we are trying to fit our boys. The in
dustrial training given is just such as
will be of great assistance to one en-
gagged in such pursuit.
"Very truly yours,
"L. G. LYMAN