The Hawaiian gazette., 1913-01-03
FOR SOLVING MANY
SCHOOL PROBLEMS


If the efforts of Superintendent Of
Public Instruction w. II. Pope and
Inspector Of Schools IT. II. Gibson are
successful, it is believed the problem
of properly housing the school children
in Honolulu and vicinity, during the
next year or two at least, win be sat
isfactorily solved The budget for tho
coming year provides an appropriation
of $4,000 for the building of additions
and the erection of new schools in this
county.
Some opposition has developed to
this, il is said, taxpayers urging that
this money could be expended TO better
advantage for other needs il arrange
ments could be made to use tho present
housing facilities to the best advan-
tage.
AS it is at present, tho schools
are used on an average of four
and one-half hours per day for
FIVE days per week, and for ten
weeks each year they are closed and
idle. The suggestion has been made
that the facilities of the present build
ngs could at least be doubled by the
employment of another force of teach
ers and the condensing of school day
into four hours.
Doubling Accommodations.
The rooms, for instance, could be
used during the morning by the differ
ent classes. The pupils and teachers
would then give way to other teachers
and pupils for the afternoon session,
thus practically doubling the accommo-
dations of the present overcrowded
schools.
According to Inspector Gibson, this
| appears feasible, but il would not provo
practical. One difficulty would be in
the enforcement of the truancy law, he
says. Truant children could easily
evade detection by stating that they
were attending either the morning or
afternoon schools. Besides, the aver
age mother finds il difficult even to get
her children ready for school before
nine clock in the morning. In Homo
lulu and vicinity, many of the parents
are employed and are compelled to
leave home in the morning, remaining
away until evening. 1t would be i'm
possible for these parents to SEQ that
their children were ready for school in
the afternoon, it is claimed.
Inspectors New Ideas.
"This problem has existed for some
NlInt, SHlu inspector ltoloi~
day, "and we have given it consider
able thought. 1t is in the lower grades,
the first and second classes, that the
overcrowding is more apparent.
"Children six or seven years old are
too young to apply themselves eontin-
, ually to study for four or five hours
daily. Better results are secured by
shorter periods of study and more mem
tai relaxation. In some of the lower
y grades we now have rs many as ninety
l pupils under one teacher. The second
I classes are almost as badly crowded.
eve have evolved plan which, if
d carried out, would meet the condition,
o at least in these classes. 1t consists of
L providing n playground with attractive
9 and healthy features for these little
l. tots, place it in charge of girl from
the higher grammar grades whose sal
airy would not be as large as teacher
% and divide these large classes into three
Ii classes, each to have a period Of about
1, forty-five minutes of study.
h "In this way, while one class was
receiving instruction in the schoolroom
two classes would be engaged in
healthy, playful pursuits in the play
ground. One teacher could care for
these three classes, give each child more
attention and do her work more thor
oughly than at present. I believe bet
ter results from an educational point
of view would be secured. | also be
CONTINUED from Page Nine.)
lieve that the healthy recreation in the
open air provided for the younger chill
dren would also have a very beneficial
: effect upon their minds as well as theil
bodies"
Budget May Be Amended.
The school budget as recently com
pleted will not go into effect befor'
June. 1t must also first be approved bI
the legislature and Governor. In view
of the discussion the budget has ALREADY
caused it is believed that it viii be dis
cussed at considerable length and prob
ably amended considerably before i
is finally adopted by the/ Territorial
sOlons. glodT
"The fixing of the school budget
not entirely the work of the depart
! ment of public Instruction. said In
: spector Gibson. "That department hIi
but small part in this important task
Tho action of the board of estimates
, final and between the two they are ii
nearly every instance guided by tn
boards of supervisors of the differen
counties. II is from them that we lear
the needs or the different districts. Ii
one country in the Territory in partic
ular, the entire estimate was made b,
the board Of supervisors through it
chairman.
Final plans for the opening Of tn
public schools Of the Territory wert
completed by Superintendent OF Public
Instruction Pope, yesterday Final re
ports from the different school district
/ in ila WaTFitnEU ahnuEfaA that Nhn i.k
> enrolment Of pupils up TO Deesmbe
~, 1912, WIS 25,ls6. The figures fo
the same period In 1911 we're 24,027
showing AN increase for tho year Of
1859.
Superintendent Pope il well please,
with the showing made and looks 10 thi
Second half Of tho school year 10 BIO on
Of tho most successful ia the history Of
the public schools iH Hawaii
"r-stt ,s--r
Angeles Times says tboy viii motor Il