The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1916-04-07
College On Wrong
Tack Thinks Smith
Former Professor Tells Where He
Stands On Agricultural Education
Demand Is For Sugar Training
Editor Maui News:

Dear Slr-My attitude in regard to
agricultural instruction at the College
of Hawaii is that the chief aim should
be to satisfy the demands of the young
men who are coming to it for instruc-
ton and training. The question is not
whether you and l believe in diversi-
fcation, or do not believe in it, or
whether we have attempted, each in
our small way, to advance this cause.
Neither is it question of the ability
of this or that industry to stand alone.
The young men who are growing to
manhood's estate in this community
are asking for the kind of an educa-
tion that will fit them to take up the
burden where their fathers lay it
down. This is their land, and the to-
morrow that is coming is their day,
not ours. They have the right to de-
mand the best preparation the state
can give them, to fit them to assume
the duties of life, and meet conditions
as they find them, not as they might
be if all planters were small farmers.
There are many men who cannot
afford to send their sons to mainland
universities to get college training.
The College of Hawaii should provide
the very best course of instruction to
place its graduates on a level with
graduates from the older institutions.
AS far as training in agriculture is
concerned the students are asking for
the agriculture that is going to help
them grow cane. All the men who
have come to the institution thus far
are looking forward to employment
in existing industries.
If horticulture was the leading in
dustry of Hawaii l would say make
horticulture the base for teaching the
science of production, because the
boys who are growing up in the coun-
try would naturally expect to become
fruit farmers. However sugar cane
production is the principle business of
the people of this Territory.
I would teach cane growing in the
public schools in cane districts; the
every day science of coffee, cattle,
pineapples, rice and general farming
in districts where one crop, or one
industry is dominant. That is the
present day trend in the states where
agriculture is the principle business
of the people. Every effort is being
put forth to fit the boys and girls to
enter the community life of the land
they call home. A nationwide move
ment is afoot to educate farm boys
for better farming, and the states
where the most rapid strides are max
ing are doing just this. The farm
boys" here in Hawaii are mostly
plantation boys, l think you will
have to admit, and most of them are
planning to be planters, engineers,
chemists, entomologists, or to engage
in the transportation, manufacture, or
the sale of the products of the land
Some of them will undoubtedly strike
out for themselves, blazing new trails,
and some will succeed where their
predecessors failed.
The creation of new industries is al
most invariably the result of individu-
al achievement. l do not call to mind
any American industry that has origi-
mated from governmental effort, eX-
cept the whole people were behind it,
boosting it. The beet sugar industry
of the Middle West is perhaps the
closest example, but that had pioneers
apart from the department of agricul-
ture from Washington. Here in Ha-
waii the present attitude towards div,
ersifed industries can best be de
scribed as tolerant.
My individual point of view is that
propaganda is out Of place in an edu
catiOnal program. Perhaps ten years
hence you will agree with me. II
students We're coming to the college
asking for instruction in dairying
would say by all means make that a
major course, What the boys are in
terested in is cane, and they are avid
for knowledge wherever it has bear
ing on any phase of the business OF
sugar production. In my opinion this
trend will grow rather than diminish
as the institution develops. The sug
ar industry is big and powerful, as
you say, but that advantage will moi
continue unless the state does what is
right for the young men who are go
ing on with it, after this generation
has been shelved.
JARED G. SMITH.
Honolulu ADril g 1916