The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-06-20
KAUAI PETITION IS j.
SENT 10 governor
Citizens Urge Reappointment oil
Mr.. and Mrs. Brown, Teach
erS At Waimea

hoS btSn ScnJ 10 governor B1nkh0n
protesting against the recent action Of
the board of school commissioners IN
failing to reappoint Mr.. and Mrs. H. G
Brown, principal and instructor in thu
i Waimea school.
Kinney Refuses To Talk
Superintendent Kinney was inform
cd yesterday that The Advertiser had
received copy Of the petition. But
beyond the comment that he had seer
the petition, knew it's contents and that
he knew no reason why the commission
should alter it's decision, the superin.
tendent declined to talk.
| "Did Governor Pinkham have any.
thing to do with the board g actionf''
he was asked.
"You had better see the Governor
himself If you want to find out any.
thing about that" was Kinney's reply.
Only Eleven waimea signers
1t is learned, however, that the ad.
ADMINISTRATION does not give the Brown
petition serious thought, statement
from one source being that Of the one
hundred and five signatures on the pa
per, only eleven are by residents of
Waimea. Most of the signers, It is as
serted, are citizens of Lihue. WHY the
people of Lihue are anxious that Mr..
and Mrs. Brown should be retained at
Waimea, or why they should not urg &c
that the couple, rather than be let ont
entirely from the public school service,
be given a place in Lihue schools, is
not made clear.
The board of education plainly takes
the position that it can release any
teacher at the end of her year or con.
tract period, regardless of the length
OF time she has served it, without Civ.
ing either herself or the public any
reason therefore, save merely that it
desires to make a change.
LIHUE, June 12.-Kauai folk are
still unsatisfed in regard to the reap.
pointment of Mr.. and Mrs. H. C. Brown.
The statement made and published by
Mr.. Kinney that they had not been dis.
missed but had failed to be reappoint-
ed strange as it may seem-has not
settled The feeling in any way. The
citizens admit that they are probably
subnormal when it comes to fathOmihg
statements made by governmental Off
cials, but they can see no appreciate
difference between dismissal and failure
to reappoint individuals to remunera-
tive positions.
The practical results following either
pleasant condition are the same, as far
as those interested can as yet deter,
mine, and - they would appreciated
further elucidation of the matter. Mr..
and Mrs. Brown are still without posi-.
tions in the Territory for the coming
year, and until some adequate prOvis-
ion has been made for them the feeling
will continue to run high and the mat,
ter will not be dropped by the promi-
nent and influential individuals who
have become aroused.
The following petition was sent to
Governor Pinkham last week and was
signed by l05 citizens Of the Garden
Isle, who are interested in the educaJ
tional uplift of the Island and Terri
tory: g..
ITO His Excellency the Governor of
the Territory of Hawaii:
owe, the undersigned residents of
the County of Kauai beg to draw your
attention to the following petition:
owe learn with regret and apprehen-
sion that the department of public in
'truction has failed to reappoint Mr..
and Mrs. Brown to their positions in
he Waimea school, or to any other po-
'ition in the department. l.
owe feel that grave injustice has
1een done Mr.. and Mrs. Brown by this
'ction of the department and would
lereby respectively request that the de-
reconsider its action in this
natter, with a view to more equitable
treatment of these teachers of long
tanding and proven ability. 1t is, we
believe, matter of fact beyond con
roVersy that they have given them
elves with nntiring industry and devo-
ion to the interest Of their school; and
Mistakes have been the result of their
nXious desire to further its WE'LL being.
1--WE deplOre the harshness of treat
lent shown toward Mr.. Brown, the
on complaints made against
1rs. Brown, and while in no way dis.
osed to excuse a failure to obey the
Instructions of the department, as
harged against Mrs. Brown. we feel
hat reprimand and a warning would !,
ave been adequate punishment, in
lew of her long, faithful and efficient
erVice. We admit that local conditions
nd prejndices at times justify the de. ,,
artment in transferring a teacher to !
ONE other position in order to bring g.,
bout harmonious relations in a com.
unity. aud we would respectfully re-
uest that If, in the opinion of the de-
artment. It would iniure such harmon
rus relations between the school and
re community to reappoint Nj and :
rs. Brown to the Waimea school, they !,
e transferred ION the merits of their !
Scellent work to some other equally ;
bod position under the department. y
:" We look with apprehension on any y
stem which enables a department or i
person TO dismiss without adequate
arning any public servant Occupying .
positiOn of trust and responsibility, s
ithOut the very best reasons. And I
ny such want of reasonable eonsidera- =
on must surely issue in undermining +
lie loyalty of the teaching force and >
fatally reducing the efficiency of the a
apartment. The fundamental prereoui- n
to FOR securing capable and efficient h
achers Is the reasonable assuran nee u
at they will be treated fairly, and A
'thing could be more fatal to our =
hO"l system than the current convic.
m that such fair treatment cannot be
lied on. Accordingly. therefore. as
sponsibl e residents of Kauai. vitality
terested in the education of the chill.
en- of our Island we resDectfullv ro.