The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-03-13
LAHA|NALUNA HEAD
ASKED TO REMAIN
House Committee on Education
After investigation Fayors
Retention Of Macdonald

Lahainaluna School, the recent resig.
nation of Clarence A. Macdonald, its
principal, and several other matters of
general interest in regard to the con.
duet Of the big Valley Island institu.
ton, the oldest educational establish
ment in the Territory, form the basis
of an important report made Friday
by Chairman Marquee and his col
leagues Of the house committee on edu
cation. The report, which recommends
that Mr.. Macdonald be prevailed upon
TO reconsider his resignation and con.
tinue his work as head Of the Maui
School, Is as follows:
Your committee on education, to
which was referred House Resolution
No. 81, relative TO Lahainaluna School,
begs leave to report as follows: Oh.
Courses Of Study
"Until comparatively recent years
the course OF study at the school has
been in some particulars different from
the regular prescribed courses for day
and high schools In the Territory. It
was thought best by the department Of
public instruction to place this institu.
tion on the same footing, as far as
academic work is concerned, with other
institutions of the Territory, in order
that the pupils from Lahainaluna might
enter the corresponding grade in any
other territorial Institution. There has
been added a ninth grade course of
studies, in which grade we found five
pupils.
Tests showed Where Fault Lies
"Sueh tests as were made by your
committee Of the eighth grade pupils,
particularly in the matter of English
composition and grammar, and even al
lowing for the natural nervousness Of
pupils on such occasions, did not con
vince your committee that they had
sufficiently mastered the rudiments Of
composition and grammar TO be present.
ed with the more technical and difficult
studies which are in the courses of the
eighth and ninth grades in the Terri
tory. .N..'s.,
"In this regard, therefore, your com.
mittee recommends that either the re-
quirements that Lahainaluna has the
same course of studies as other institu-
tons in the Territory be dropped, or
that the courses be so modified as TO
meet the requirements Of the boys in
this institution for fuller and freer
knowledge Of English and of English
composition. ...
Agricultural Course
'The agricultural department is now
under Mr., Fred A. Cloves, who also has
courses in hygiene and sanitation and
history. While your committee has no
fault to find with the teaching Of agri.
culture in schools, il is an undeniable
fact that the Hawaiian boy does not
take readily to agriculture and is much
more proficient and much more enjoys
courses in trades. The raising Of sugar
cane by the school has proved profitable
for the school and Is recommended by
the department of public instruction
for the purpose of helping to make the
school selfsuppOrting, and as slight
return on the part of the boys for not
only free education but free board and
lodging. .a.
1.-THE school maintains efficient print.
ing, carpenter and blacksmith shops
As before stated, the boys take very
readily to this class of instruction and
become very proficient therein. 1t was
the universal opinion of the persons in
terviewed by your committee, including
such, men as Mr.. Louis Weinzheimer,
manager of the Pioneer Mill, and Mr..
David T. Fleming, manager of Homo
| lua Ranch, and also alumni of Lahaina-
luna, that the special call for the school
lay along the lines preparing the boys
TO make a living as skilled mechanics,
and your committee recommends that
the department pay particular attention
to this branch of education at the
school and grant every facility within
its power to the teaching of trades at
Lahainauna. w
Resignation Of Principal 4t.
lin regard to the resignation of Mr..
Clarence A. Macdonald, your commit.
tee is of the opinion that the resigna-
ton was caused by the feeling on the
part of Mr.. Macdonald that he was
not being supported by the department
of public instruction and that this de
partment was not satisfied with his
work as such principal. We found that
this feeling arose from three eireum.
stances, namely: First, that the depart
ment had appointed Mr.. Cloves with an
equal salary to that of Mr.. Macdonald.
and feeling on Mr.. Cloves part that
his duties and position were coordinate
10 Mr.. acDOnald :.
owe found that the department did
not so consider Mr.. Cloves, and so In.
formed Mr.. Macdonald. Second, the
appointment of Mr. Sahr without con,
sultation with Mr.. Macdonald. The
superintendent of public instruction has
stated that this appointment was made
under pressure of circumstances and
the department has informed Mr., Mae,
| Donald that in case Mr. Sahr was not
found competent by Mr.. Macdonald
they would consider some other teacher
for his place, but that no complnir
had been made by Mr. Macdonald
and the third was an attempt by the su
pervising principal to have one of the
teachers file charges and criticisms with
the supervising principal against Mr..
Macdonald. OF this afort on the par
OF the supervising principal we do not
believe that the department was cog
INFANT or sanctioned it.
your committee, therefore. feels
that the resignation of Mr.. MacDon'
aid was in large part due to misunder'
standings between the department and
Mr. Macdonald, which misunderstand
ings have been or could be easily
cleared up, and that the long and eff
| Cicnt services nf Mr. MoonanoId aar.