The Hawaiian gazette., 1912-08-02
Total Registration.
Total Students .642
The Freshman Problem,

|
| From the educational standpoint the
subject to which we have been giving
most thought 'and attention is that
which we have come to call "The
Freshman Problem. This is the prob
lem of bringing the eighth grader who
has been more or less under the con
troll of one teacher from school in
which he has had chief place to
school where his restraint gives way to
freedom, his superiority to meek in
feriority and the simplicity of one
teacher steady control to the com
pleXity of meeting the demands of
four or more teachers. The problem is
vastly complicated also by the fact
that this change comes too at about
the same time that physical changes,
especially in the boy, are upsetting
normal conditions.
Every school in the land is seeking
an answer to the questions which are
here raised. The two great experiments
now being tried are (D to hold the stu
dent longer in the grammar grades, (2)
| to segregate the freshman class with
| the seventh and eighth grades under
the name of the Junior High school.
| OF course any solution that we may
| try here must take account of our ma
terial facilities in the way of rooms
and teachers and of our peculiar scho
lastic conditions. We have been work
| ing experimentally along lines which
we think are helping the students and
| pointing the way to some permanent
solution of the problem. We first at
tempt to analyze the pupils difficulties.
The observations of individual teach
ers are compared in conference The
council diagnoses and prescribes. The
remedy may take the form of daily
reports from each teacher TO the Of
fee, supervised study hour and help pc
RODS and much personal assistance by
the teacher. The student is given a
steady or heavy hand as the case may
require. This plan is helping. The
next step is the creation of machinery
by which the help shall come earlier,
so early in fact that it shall be a part
of his instruction almost from the first
and the provision of facilities for
prompt and certain help to those who
need it. These will include freshman
room where they may be kept and
helped together, and supervised study
hour where they will be both assisted
through their troubles and taught the
means the next time of assisting them
selves The real need is to give them
power oyer new tasks and confidence
in meeting them
Interest of Alumni.
This report ought to make mention
of the increased interest of the old
students in the school. There has al
ways been an expression of much SEN
timental aloha; this tendency towards
the Capitalization of this sentiment
into effort and action is one of the
most hopeful signs of the times. Puma
hou ought to have behind her the in
terest and active support of her large
body of alumni. Under Mr.. Atherton s
leadership we hope that there may be
real rallying of old Punahouites.
Decennial Review.
In TINS decennial report you will per
; haps pardon its prolongation by briei
3 review of the decades progress and
| changes.
The Corporation.
Four members of the board of trus
tees in 1902-1903 are not now on th'
corporation. Joseph B. Atherton ant
s. z. Damon have died, w. II. Babbitr
and William d. Alexander have left TIM
board, F. w. Damon retired and return
P ed again, Clarence H. Cooke and w. f
2 Dillingham;, W. L. Whitney and A.
9 Alexander have taken their places dur
ing the time. The secretary and treas
: urer of the corporation have remained
e unchanged during the period.
r Measure of Progress.
: The decade has seen a great growtl
e in the material things by whicl
!, growth is usually measured. The cul
: tivated campus which in 1902 consisted
Y of small areas around Pauahi, Bingham
8 and Chas. R. Bishop Halls now include
an acreage of so acres. Within tn
boundaries of the present campus Onl.
one considerable undeveloped sectiol
remains. Cooke Library and Art Gal
lery mark a great advance on the lii
% erary and artistic side. AleXande
g Field and Courts give new facilities i
10 the physical line. Rice Hall, Dole Ha
r and Castle Hal-to-be provide moder
living accommodations for the boardin
: department. The president s house an
4, five new cottages helm 70 house tn
RI teaching staff Pauahi Hall, Binghar
is Hall, Old School Hall, the principal
:. house, the tank have all been remod
IL II.ll - al -