The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1919-05-09
Some Landmarks In
School Development
Interesting Paper Shows Outstanding
Features In History OF Education
InISIandS Some Striking Changes
From Early Years
BY T. II. GIBSON,

dIlll pupuldliOl anu dlNtlludlCe was
compulsory.
Before the end of 1924, two thou
sand people had learned to read, and
a peculiar system of schools was
spreading over the islands. Each
chief sent the most proficient scholars
in his retinue to his different lands
to act as teachers, with orders to his
tenants to attend school. The eager
ness of the people to acquire the new
and wonderful arts of reading and
writing was intense, and at length al
most the whole population went to
school. The time of school was from
one to two hours in the afternoon
and the pupils We're called together
by the blowing of a conch SHELF
AleXander's History.
2. In 1882, schools began to be
opened for native children, which
gradually took the place of those for
adults.
5. The Oahu Charity School for
the instruction of the English speak
ing children of Honolulu was opened
January 10, 1888. This school, through
a series of changes of location and
policy, developed into the present Nc
Kinley High School.
4. The commencement tot Lahaina-
luna Seminary, which supplied teach
ers for the public schools, took place
in 1881.
5. The Hilo Boys Boarding School,
which became the model of the
schools on the mainland for the in
%struction of the negro and Indian I'M
der the leadership of General Arm
strong, was established in 1887.
6. In May, 1910, the Royal School
was opened for the purpose of educat-
ing young chiefs of high rank through
the medium Of the English language.
Z. In 1S45, Mr.. Richards was APP
pointed Minister of Public instruction
and the public school system was or
ganized as a department of the gov
ernment.
8. Rev. Richard Armstrong, the
father of General Armstrong, and an
ardent discipls and admirer of Hor-
ace Mann, succeeded Mr.. Richards,
on the latter's death in 1S47, as
Minister of Public instruction. In
1850 the department was r~eorganized
but Mr.. Armstrong continued his
work as President of the Board of
Education until his death in 1860.
8. In 1865, the Office of Inspector
General of Schools was created by
law. The first to fill this Office was
Honorable A. Fernandez, the most
scholarly and most distinguished man
who ever held this Office. His most
distinctive work was the separation
OF the X in all government schools
AS a result of this movement the
Royal School became the most i'm
portant boys school and the Militant
or P~ohukaina the most important day
school for girls.
10. In 1870, Mr.. r. H. Hitchcock
was appointed Inspector General of
schools, and therefollowed rel
years of revival and Improvement.
IL. In 1876, Mr.. d. d. Baldwin was
appointed Inspector General. Dur
ing his incumbency, 1S76-18S4, English
day-schools, or Select Schools" as
they called, increased from five to
forty-fiVe.
II. In 1882, Mr.. Baldwin prepared
a Course of Study for the Select
Schools, which provided for the usual
eight years OF elementary and four
years of high school work. This
course of study was framed in &C
cordance with the best educational
ideas in America at that time.
10. In 1882, a National Teachers
Association was. organized in Homo
lulu, whose membership included
teachers from all the islands.
II. In 1883, tuition fees were
abolished in practically all the select
schools.
10. In the same year a new course
OF study, prepared by Mr.. Atkinson
n Mr.. NJ. NJ. Scott, was adopted by
the Board Of Education. For over
TWO years there had been little or no
supervision of schools. 1t was not
possible to provide competent teach
ers for the rapidly increasing English
schools, Hence, it was necessary to
simplify the course of study and make
II more formal. The previous one,
rich in content matter, was thought
to be beyond the capacity of many
teachers whose employment was
necessary at that time.
l6. In 1888, Teachers Conventions
We're revived. These were held
sometimes on each island and once a
year q general convention was held
IN Honolulu. Teachers travelling ex-
penses To and from Honolulu were
paid at two of these general meetings.
Teachers Convention had been a
feature of the school system from the
time of its organization, but were
mostly local in character. The gem
eral convention called by Mr.. Atkin-
son, Inspector General, in 1888, and
continued for more than a decade, de
yeloped into the Summer School of
1900, and has become an annual
event with few Interruptions up to
the present time.
These conventions were productive
of more uniformity in the work of
the schools, increased interest and
esprit de corps among the teachers.
II. In the same year, examinations
for teachers certificates were inaugu-
rated.
Is. In September, 1888, Mr.. NJ. NJ.
Scott, Principal of the Fort Street
SGhnn1 gtgrtal a ,I,r- g.. 4--zl--