Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-11-20
POINTED CRITICISM
OF NORMAL SCHOOL
SYSTEM IS VOICED
College Club Sends Letter to
Governor, Superintendent
Kinney and Commissioners
of Education
ASKS FEDERAL SURVEY
BE MADE OF SITUATION

Termed Marrow; ExcluS-
ion of Competent Tutors
From Mainland Institutions
Believed Unjustified, UnWiSe
A careful and courteously-worded
yet pointed criticism of Hawaii's nor
NAL school system and attitude to-
ward employment of teachers has
been sent by the College Club of Homo
2aIu to Governor Pinkham, Superin-
1. .ehdent Of Public instruction Kinney
and each Of the commissioners of pub
lie instruction.
The letter, signed by the officers of
the College Club and by the members
of the clubs "Committee on Local In
terests," declares the policy of the de-
partment Of public instruction is mar
row" as to the employment Of Ameri-
can teachers from the mainland, and
in other respects. all Of which are de-
tailed.
Here are some of the points Of a
communication which, It is expected,
heralds an agitation directed toward
the radical change Of several of the
departments policies:
College Club has taken an active
interest In the public schools and In
the prospects Of young islanders who
wish 20 study elsewhere and return
20 teach here; also in the prospects
Of competent teachers from the main
land who wish to teach here.
At present, Territorial Normal
School has an admission system re-
,jeeted BY 50 cut OF 3e states and being
abolished IN Virtually 81 the others.
AnerIesnixstlou ot tiswaii's alien
population 10 limited by "our narrow
policy" Of discrimination in favor Of
Normal School graduates.
Recent speech Of superintendent
Kinney said to enuneiate the policy
Of the department as In favor Of the
Normal School furnishing all teachers
for territory, In primary and grammar
grades at least.
Territory should abandon "insuIar-
ity" and take part In nationwide edu-
cational plan for interstate recognition
Of credentials Of teachers.
Earnest request made for a "Fed-
eral School Survey" under the direc-
tion Of the bureau Of edition, depart
nent Of education. The bureau will
Send three or four experts to make
The survey here, the territory TO pay
the travelling and other expenses, and
the federal bureau the salaries, Of the
experts.
The letter to the governor, superin
tendent of public instruction. and COM
missioners OF public instruction fol-
lows:
Honolulu, T. H., Nov. Is. 1916.
Since its beginning some ten years
ago, the College Club has watched
with constant interest the work of the
public schools in this territory. Among
its members are many mothers of
families-those who have taught and
those now teaching The club would
not discourage any child in an am
bition to prepare for teaching in the |
public schools of this territory. This
applies to the child of the Japanese
or Chinese coolie, the humblest white |
or Hawaiian laborer; but 1t also ap-
born of educated American parents, |
who cevet for II the best training our
nation offers. Going from Island |
homes, such students are even now
seeking in mainland college and pro- |
fessional school an education as
teachers. comparable, in seriousness,
to that sought by their fellow students
as prospective doctors or lawyers. |
When the financial needs cannot be
met by the individual alone, through |
its loan fund this club las helped. |
and is now helping. island girls to
complete their college work
Speaks for Young islanders
The College Club makes no plea for
cultured amateurs in primary, gram
mar OF high school: but for young
islanders, who have added profession
al training to heir high school diplo-
ma and college degree, this club now
speaks. At present they are rated by
the department as inferior to the grad
yates of the local Normal school; they
lose their status as islanders and are
subjected to conditions reserved for
'malihinis'; neither in salary or in
other conditions Of employment are
they on an equality with locally
trained graduates; their high school,
college and higher professional work
are not assets, but stand against them.
Trained Heaehersn-Not Jobs
Moreover, the College Club would
speak not only for these-our very
own-5ut for all thoroughly equipped
teachers. no matter what state gave
them birth and the training necessary
to make them of use in class room.