Honolulu star-bulletin., 1917-11-03
Educational News Of Special Interest
To Teachers In HaWdii's Schools
BY Vaughan MacCaughey, College of Hawaii
fscHooE cHILDREN,s SPARE TIME

tScHooE CHILDREN,S SPARE TIME
Hawaii as an agricultural country
has been largely spared from the evils
of enild labor which constitute a
! glaring blemish upon the industrial
systems in many parts of the mainland
and other countries. Quite distinct,
however, from the selfish exploita.
ton of the child by the old-time fac.
tory system is the modern effort to
wisely direct the out-of-school activi-
ties of the school child. II d" ~
The conditions facing the people of
the United States because of the en-
trance of this country into the world
war have greatly stimulated interest
in the work of school-children during
out-of-school hours. An investigation
recently carried on under the Bureau
of Education, comprehending $4,000
children in dozen representative
| states, has brought to light the follow
ing impartant data: ...-....E
sc per cent of the children are en-
ployed during summer vacations. The
average earnings are $13.19. Many of
| the occupations are undesirable for
children. The incorporation into the
school program of profitable home
project enterprises in gardening, home
making, shopwork, and other phases
of the practical arts is probably the
best solution to the problem of school
| child employment. ..
One Of the conspicuous changes
needed consists in the rearrangement
| of the school year, so that the summer
vacation may come in the middle of
the year instead of at the end Under
conditions the children at the end of
the year drop everything pretaining to
school. The summer vacation is given
over to activities entirely distinct from
school work. On returning to school
at the end of the long vacation the
children enter new classes, meet new
teachers, and commence new studies.
II the school year commenced with
January and ended with December the
summer vacation might be made de-
| cidedly more useful than it is at pre-
sent. 1t Is not necessary to burden
the children with heavy assignments,
but there should be some kind of con-
tfnulty OF thought and purpose to eli
inmate such long waste of time as is
the case under present conditions.
Ihe summer work should be of such
character as to furnish remuneratiVe
employment, and in this way the child
may learn the value of money express
ed in work, and be able to contribute
something to his support.
HAWAlPs ALIEN POPULATION
The population of this Territory in
cludes such a very high percentage
OF aliens that the following statement
concerning the compulsory education
OF aliens, is of particular interest.
Inls statement was made recently
by Superintendent Alderman, in
charge of the public schools of Port
land, Oregon.
Our educational system is designed
70 reach the coming generation only.
lt completely ignores the generation
OF today. We have the generation
plan for reaching and assimilating the
great masses of aliens who are coming
to our shores. Congress has tried to
solve this problem by applying educa-
tlonal tests when the foreigner arrives.
But the mere fact that he is tIilterate
when he arrives is no proof that the i'm
migrant is poor material for American
citlzensh1p. His illiteracy probably
mas been due to a lack of opportunity.
How much more effective would tests
from time to time after his arrival be
In determining whether or not he is
manifesting an active interest in be-,