Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-11-20
POINTED CRITICISM OF normal
SCHOOL SYSTE N VOICED BY CLUB
CONTINUED IRON page onel
We plead for trained teachers in the
schools, not ioEs for islanders


We plead for trained teachers in the
schools, not joEs for islanders.
The primary grade throughout the
territory requires. admittedly. two
years IT even longer in which. 10 do
the WORK English speaking children do
in oRe year, which is not due 10 the
stupidity OF island children bat 10 the
fact that the entering class must
master what is practically a foreign
language, at least so far as the ability
10 speak English goes. In our island
vernacular, this the children no can.
This fact makes still grayer the fol-
lowing conditions:
Our Normal school admits pupils
directly from the eighth grammar
grade and graduates them with
teachers grammar grade certificate
after a four-year course. Now, OF the
IS mainland states, 80 have rejected
this plan as unworthy of American
teachers. OF the nine remaining states
Texas requires better preparation OF
some of its teachers, though not of all.
Delaware is this year undertaking
more thorough course, and Vermont
and Florida are abolishing their old
systems. similar to ours, in favor OF
the system now generally established.
Six southern states, which carry the
burden of double school system for
colored and for white children, still
hold to this plan Three of these are
scattered and three constitute group
lying in the heart of the Black Belt
Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi We
have no right to claim equality with
them. however. for their backward
condition is in spite Of the desire of
their present officials and not because
of official federation or support. No
states of the Union are making great
er relative adv nce in the percent
age of school attendance, in the char.
acter Of the curriculum, or in the adj
vancing standards set for the teachers.
The Amerieanization Problem
1.-THE Americanization of the foreign
immigrant is now a nation wide prob
lem that might easily become a ma
tional menace. Hawaii has it's own
acute form of this, and the type Of
teacher to which we commit its hand
ling in the schools is unavoidably one
element in its solution. We limit still
further the contact OF alien elements
with the American spirit by our mar
row policy as to American teachers
from the mainland, and still more by
our insuIarity that refuses recognition
to our students unless they choose the
short cut to an education prescribed
by the Normal school, Read over the
lists of Normal school graduates and
notice how largely they are drawn
from social groups the least American
in blood and bringing up. That these
groups should share in all forms of
our island life is best, but that they
should dominate our schools seems
doubtful. Surely in these days no
American need justify most serious
interest in public education and it is
upon this gravest of considerations we
base this protest.
Departments Policy
"A realization of these matters
makes still more significant a speech
delivered by the superintendent of
public instruction at the graduation
exercises of the Normal school, where
in, as orator of the day, he announced
the policy of the department of public |
instruction. 1t was correctly reported
in the Advertiser of June % in a form
which the superintendent writes he is