The Garden Island. [volume] (Lihue, Kauai, H.T.) 1902-current, 1920-05-25
THE PUBLIC
SCHOOL DAY
A Statement by Vaughan Maecaushel

- otdteneHt w NauS"o" "oSSs'~S |
I. Publicity
understand that certain Honolulu
teachers have stated that the action
Of the Board, in adding thirty minutes
to the school day, was taken without
consultation of those in the employ |
of the Department.
This charge is not correct. The
facts are these:
Several weeks before the Commits
sioners meeting, forty sets of proof
sheets of the proposed changes in
rules governing examinations, official
time schedule, school day, ETC., were
printed. These proof-sheets were
sent, not only to the Commissioners,
but were also distributed to the local
press and to representative school
principals. This marked a new step
in the Departments sustained policy
of publicity and democracy, as moth
ing of this sort had ever been done
before.
Ill GO SohhNiNASSS -
principals, teachers and others, were
called, both at the Library of Hawaii
and at the Department Office on May
1, 5 and 6, at which the proposed
changes were thoroughly discussed.
The principals had opportunity to fully
copies of the proof sheets.
copis of the proof sheets.
Numerous valuable revisions and
suggestions were incorporated as re-
suit of these conferences with the
principals. The proposed changes
were next discussed very fully
at the Supervising Principals con-
ference, who unanimously recommend
ed the lengthening of the school day
by thirty minutes. The Supervising
Principals, representing the teachers
throughout the Territory, not only
heartily approved of the proposed
change but also indicated that the
change would be favorably received
in their respective districts, These
conferences were given full newspaper
publicity. The teachers Of Honolulu
had ample opportunity to inform the
Department of their views.
AS a matter of fact, no communica.
ton or protest, official or otherwise
was received by the Department dur
ing the period prior to final action by
the Commissioners from such local
organizations the Oahu Teachers As
sociation, The Women Principals OF
Honolulu, The Oahu Rural Principals
Club, the Honolulu ;Schoolmasters'
Club or any other educational or civic
organization.
The matter was presented to the
Commissioners with the statement
that this recommendation was direct
ly in line with anticipated recommen-
dations Of the Federal School Survey
Commission, and had the general ap-
proval of the Supervising Principals
principals and others. The proposal
was discussed fully by the Commits.
sioners and was passed by unani
nous vote.
have ventured to make somewhat
detailed statement on this point in
order to make it perfectly clear that
the Department gave newspaper pub
licity to the proposed change and act
ed only after mature consideration.
u. Lengthening of School Day
Permit me to present the following
items with refernce to the Depart
ment's decision to lengthen the schoo
day by thirty minutes, beginning Sep
tember 1, 1920.
The various members of the Fedora
School Survey Commission were unani
nous in declaring that our school day
was too short. They commented upor
the marked disparity between the pub
private schools in Hawaii. Further
more, our public school day is much
shorter than the mainland public
school day, although we endeavor t.
teach the same curriculum.
The standard mainland school day
including Southern California and th'
Gulf States, begins at $3.50 or S:4'
sometimes 9. o'clock and runs Il
3:15 or P. M. The school day TO
upper grades is somewhat longer thai
that for the lower grades.
The time schedule adopted by thu
Department calls for 1925 minutes o
teaching per week, exclusive of recess
es. The teaching period per day
therefore, is hours and As minutes
plus a Is minute morning recess, plu
a 80 minute lunch period, or total
5h hours per day. This 5k hour
per day is for only 100 days of the 36
DAYS of the calendar year. In othe