Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-03
Elmer A. Brown Reports Inter
est Running High; Proposes
Further Developments

Puunene, Maui, T. H.. Feb. "a. 1917.
Editor Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Dear Sir: We are still able 10 re-
port continued growth Of interest IN
the Star-Bulletin Farm Contest. At
this time our records show 1873 pupils
trying for a Star-Bulletin prize. los
OF whom are proceeding under our
school contract system. Besides this
number. we have Sc bows enrolled in
our regular agricultural classes and
these are trying 10 win the first prize
Tor the Puunene school In other yo-
cstional work, 30 boys are learning
the underlying principles OF animal
care by doing much OF the work oil
tending our rabbits and chickens.
Thirty-eight more are gaining some in
eight into carpentry in our shop
classes. All OF this work is In direct
charge OF Mr.. Louis eamara. a grad.
uate of the Honolulu Normal school
With the class of 1916.
Some OF the work OF the regular
school garden boys will be observed
in the pictures that ] am enclosing
One picture represents a lesson In
washing produce and putting IL In at
tractive packages for market. An
other view shows the boys In readi
~ness TO start TO sell the lastly pre-
pared produce. ! am sending you also
two views Of our home garden under
our rental system. You will note
the activity OF both girls and boys.
Some large stones that have been
removed with great difficulty. are to
be seen. Still another picture shows
our Experimental School Garden as
II appeared on the 18th inst. This
garden was planted between Decen-
Der 20 and January 5. last. and has
produced q crop OF radishes which
sold at the rate Of S6s3.55 per acre.
We are now harvesting crop Of let
tuce which promises to prove equally
profitable The part that produced
radishes has been replanted to let.
tuce
From our experience. IL would seem
that living out OF tin cans" Is entire
~ unexcusable In Hawaii. Al garden
80 It. by 40 IT. can easily be made to
produce enough wholesome vegetables
to supply the table Of q large family. ,
Most az the labor required for such q
garden can be performed BY q child
six years Of age and the labor ex.
ponded would beea character building
exercise Developing both body and
mind to high degree. A
Why. then. do we appear so neg
ligent In this particular? would ans
wer that We are the servants OF
HABIT We have formed the habit
OF depending on one Industry. This
dependence on the cane fields has
blinded us TO the vegetable garden.
Our blindness can be cured only by
education. Il was formerly the
habit Of the boy who took corn to
the mill TO place a bag. containing
corn In one end and q stone in the
ether for balance. across the back OF
his horse. II took years OF EDUCA-
TiON 70 break up this foolish HABIT
and make him understand that he
! might just as well have corn IN both
ends OF the bag. But this Is the age
Of rapid learning. Corn is brought
to the mill IN train loads instead Of in |
bagfuls borne on the hack OF horse |
Why not have a school adapted to
the needs Of the age and the locality?
suppose that 200 boys between the /
ages OF y and Is years were brought |
together for training IN an industrial |
school designed to fit them for their |
country's services. Bring them from
all parts Of the territory. Make the
Inducements TO attend this school |
strong enough 10 attract boys OF more
than average intelligence who were
destined to become leaders in their
communities. Let their school records |
be the basis for selection. Train them
to become farmers intelligent in .
vestigators OF agricultural possible |
ties. Give them an adequate amount ,
OF instruction In carpentry and black /
smithing and other kindred agricul- .
tural subjects. Make the curriculum |
broad enough to fit the requirements !,
OF the various locaiities-make II a
representative school. After the pupils I
have formed the desired habits. send /
them home to convey their ideas TO !.
their neighbors by actual demonstra-
ton. While such q course would re-
quire the outlay. Of large amount of /
money. within a few years II would be
returned to the government in the
form Of taxes or increased valuations !
due directly to the diffusion Of learn
ing through the agency OF the pro-
posed school.
We are striving to do what we can
with, our limited facilities and with
our primary pupils to approach this
ideal But ours Is not a vocational
school We are not .neglecting any
subject in the course of study nor
any Of the rules and regulations of
the department OF public instruction
for the interest that We may have in
any hobby. Yet In our efforts to de-
relop good and substantial citizens in Z
our management of class room recita-
tions or playground activities. or pre-
vocational pursuits. we hope 70 estab-
lish some facts of economic and so
cial value to everyday people in their
everyday lives We trust that ex-
periments which we have cited and
others that we are conducting win I
lead to some such discoveries. It may
be that people can be led to see that
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