Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-07-21
Pupils Show Aptitude for Spell
ing; Hawaiian Geography
to Be Emphasized

I'VE report progress, then, IN in
creased numbers; on course or SUI
dy we are striving ever to Improve,
on a broad and varied program OF
school activities, social, moral and re,
ligious; in scholarship and in steadily
developing efficiency of our staff OF
leading teachers"
Thus Charles T. Fits, principal of
the Punahou preparatory school,
tersely summarizes the progress of the
preparatory school IN his annual re-
port to the board Of trustees Of the
Oahu College. who met on Thursday
at the University Club.
During the year l916-1917 the en-
rollment of the Punahou preparatory
school was $40 and the average at,
tendance was 516.38, while in 1915.
1916 the enrolment was only 49S and
the average attendance 46347, and ID
1914-1915 the enrolment was exactly
500 and the average attendance 463
The number enrolled in the course in
piano study increased from 50 to 69
in the past year, while the number
taking voice and the number taking
violin decreased from IA to 10 and
80 to %, respectively.
The registration by nationalities
still shows the whites predominating
with a total of 49, which is 70 per
cent Of the total number enrolled
There are 81 part Hawaiians, which
is 14.3 per cent Of all students; II
Chinese, or 8 per cent; II japanese,
or 81 per- cent, and 4 Portuguese, or IS
per cent The total enrolment was
So
In view Of improving the course of
study in reading, the Merrill readers
will take the place of the Stepping
Stones to Literature series, which are
now considered antiQuated. The Al
dine system is to be used further in
the work with reading and more work
In literature will be given with this
special feature Of the work. The
scope of silent reading will be enlarg.
ed as one Of these steps.
Success In Spelling
Unusual success in spelling durins
the year was reported by Mr.. Fits.
In spelling the ''one hundred demons, u
words which were considered catchy
and which the pupils had never seen
before, the grade from three to eight
inclusive scored an average of SIS
per cent In tests on DR.. Leonard P.
Ayres', Russell Sage Foundation, Sc
lected list Of troublesome words,
grades two to eight inclusive scored
an average Of ST. per cent. This is
generally higher than the records
made in the average mainland schools,
according to Mr.. Fits For instance,
records Of the spelling of these words
by the pupils of the high grade schools
OF Des Moines, Ia, average only 64.2
per cent. In the future the spelling
book Of Principal Pearson of the
Horace Mann school of New York will
be placed in the hands Of the teachers.
More Hawaiian geography will be
given to the preparatory pupils in the
future. Sewing will be continued as
an optional and extra subject. Last
year 81 girls spent one hour a week
in this work.
Features of the outside activit,
which will be continued will be Par.
ents' day in the rail- term, the special
assembly program on Thursday morn.
ings, Waonahele Ohana, an excursion
class which combines nature study
with pleasure, and the Junior Crusa,l
ers' Club, which does social service
work.
Much interest IN vegetable gardens
was shown following the attempt OF
the school to carry to the pupils the
presidents message to raise more
food - a. DC. h~~c and 5S girls