Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-05
lanes Steiner Draws Attention
to Star Bulletins COMPETE
ton and Puunene Letter
Editor Honolnm star-Bulletin,

III among the school Harden contest, DH
Edna A. Brown, principal CT Puunene
School, deserves wider circulation and
should be especially called to. the at
Il tention OF the Legislature now conyen-
ing IN the city.
II The schools in the country districts
! seem to take a lively interest in
farming and gardening and this in
II terest could easily be stimulated and
! made more OF a feature by giving
| some money prizes to both the teach
/ ers and schools that make deserving
/ effort ard good showing. A small ap-
| prODriaiien for that worthy object
/ would surely bring good results and be
| of great benefit in this era of uni
/ yersal preparedness.
JAMES STEINER.
! The Star-Bulletin, in response to the
/ suggestion above, reprints the letter
from Principal Brown referred to:
1 Puunene. Maui. T, H.. Feb. "a. 1917.
Editor Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
/ Dear Sir: We are still able to re-
port continued growth of interest in
the Star-Bulletin Farm Contest. At
| this time our records show l33 pupils
! trying for 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 to win the first prize
for the Puuneue school. in other yo-
eational work. 30 boys are learning
the underlying principles of animal
care by doing much Of the work OF
tending our rabbits and chickens.
Thirty-eight more are gaining some in
sight into carpentry in cur shop
classes All or this work is in direct
charge OF ar. Louis Camara, grad
uate of the Honolulu Normal school
with the class of 1918.
Some of the work Of the regular
school garden boys will be observed
in the pictures that am enclosing.
One picture represents a lessoa in
washing produce and putting it in at
tractive packages for market. An
other view shows the boys in readi
ness to start to sell tile lastly pre-
pared produce ] am sending you also
two views of our home garden under
our rental system. You will note
the activity OF beth 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
1t appeared on the 18th inst This
garden was planted between Deem
Der 90 and January 5, last, and has
produced q crop of radishes which
sold at the rate of $6S355 per acre.
We are now harvesting atcrop of let
luce which promises to prove equally |
profitable. The part that produced |
radishes has been replanted to let |
tuce.
From our experience, it would seem
that Giving out of tin cans" is entire |
1y unexcusabie in Hawaii. A garden !
80 1T. by 40 it. can easily be made to |
produce enough wholesome vegetables |
to supply the table of large family. |
Most of the labor required for such |
garden can be performed by child |
six years of age and the labor ex-
pended would be character building |
exercise developing both body and |
mind to high degree.
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. 1t was formerly the |
HABIT of the boy who. took corn to
the mill to place a bag, containing /
corn in one end and stone in the |
other, for balance, across the back OF |
his horse. 1t took years of EDUCA- |
TI0N to 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 |
bagfuls borne on the back Of horse |
Why not have school adapted to |
tire needs of the age and the locality? /
Suppose that 200 boys between the
ages OF ~ and Is years we're 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 I
strong enough to 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-intelligen in /
yestigators of agricultural possibili- /
ties. Give them an adequate amount |
OF instruction in carpentry and black
sDlithing and other kindred agricul- (
tural subjects Make the curriculum /
broad enough to fit the requirements
of the various localities-make it a
representative school. After the pupils |
have formed the desired habits, send /
them home to convey their ideas to
their neighbors by actual demenstra- I
ton. While such 4 course would re- /
quire the outlay of large amount of /
money, within few years it 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-
uncod cnhonl u