Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-02-19
THE WORK FOR SCHOOLS MUST GO on

Governor Frears message to the Legislature
today is an able and remarkable document. The
executive not only makes a long series of recon-
mendations, but sums up the progress of the ter
ritory in the last two years along all important
lines pertaining to Legislative action.
The Legislature of 1911 will go down in his
tory as a legislature that did great work for
the schools In fact, it's progressive stand for
Education was probably the most significant, the
nest permanently important policy it put for
ward. Hence Governor Frear's message this
morning is particularly interesting in dealing
With school matters Here are some of the
things he says:
Local interest in the schools has been further
Increased by turning over to the counties, sub
ject to certain limitations, the construction of
buildings and the maintenance of buildings and
grounds Some of the counties appear not to
have fully comprehended their duties in this re-
spect at first, hut now not only are certain SUMS
required to be raised by special tax rates and
used exclusively for these purposes, but most OF
the counties are manifesting a commendahle
readiness to devote additional amounts to the
same purposes out of their other revenues. Al
though there are obvious objections to a division
Of authority and functions in school matters,
there are perhaps more than compensating adj
vantages where the division is as natural in sub
ject matter as in this instance. The arrange
ment should now be carried to its logical extent
BY amending the school fund act of the last ses-
sion SO as to place under the counties all instead
Of only two of the items in the special fund.-
Of the ssschool budget. That act should be
re lcT
to remove antiquities that have developed, and
otherwise improve it.
The passage of the school fund act, which put
the public schools ON sufficient and largely
automatic financial basis, was one of the most
important events in the school history of Hawaii.
In consequence Of much assisted immigration OF
Europeans especiallyswomen and children, and
unassisted immigration of Japanese women and
an increasing birthrate, the pupils in the public
schools alone have increased from IL sol to "A,
993 or III per cent during the twelve and half
years of territorial government. On the other
hand, owing to diminution of funds during the
first part of that period in consequence OF the
transfer of customs duties to the federal govern
ment and the growth of other demands, the
funds that could be spared for school purposes
grew smaller and smaller relativelyto the needs
The expenditures for maintenance, exclusive OF
new buildings, fell from $SS 1S per pupil in 1898
to $2O41 in 1907 There we're neither teachers
nor rooms enough for the children and the re
duction in salaries resulted in an Impairment OF
teaching efficiency. The new school fund act
i'm conjunction with the new tax act, provides
for special assessments sufficient to provide foI
school needs irrespective of other needs, and
these needs, so far as teachers salaries are con
coIned, are determined, subject to certain lmi
tations, by the commissioners of public instruc
tion with the approval of the governor, and, SC
far as other expenses are concerned, by the com
missioners, subject to review as to items in the
especial fund.-, which covers buildings and
grounds, by committee of estimates composed
of representatives of the territory and the ser
eral counties and as to items in both the 'spe
cial fund" and the general fund.-, which covers
other expenditures, by the legislature. AT the
same time provision was made to the extent OF
S374, 900 out of loan funds for new buildings
The result during the first year and half OF
the present biennial period has been the con
struetion Of many new buildings; an increase
of 139, or 20 per cent, in the number of teach