Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-12-16
FACES
RACE PROBLEM :
FOR SOLUTION.
Japs Make Up Nearly Half of
PopuIation-In Time Will
Control Vote.
INFLUENCE OF ORIENT
BY FREDERIC J. HAsK1N.

no less tnan CaIuornla, mas Japaneso
problem, is the report brought back by
DR.. Frank Bunker and other representa-
tives Of the Bureau Of Education, who
have been studying conditions there.
According to the new census figures,
Japanese make up nearly half Of the $50,
900 of population in Hawaii, and in
few years they viii be able to control the
vote Of the islands. This would not bee
such disturbing prophecy except for
the fact that the Japanese in Hawaii,
especially the school children, are being
pulled two ways. The United States Cow
eminent is there trying to educate them.
hoping that those born under the United
States flag will make satisfactory Amer
lean citizens. At the same time, a jap
anese influence is being exerted so that
the children will not forget to celebrate
the Emperor's birthday or grow up in
Ignorance Of Japanese ways and tradi-'
lions.
Foreign language schools, presided over
by teachers brought from Japan, are set
up all over the islands near the terrltor-
iaI public schools. Japanese parents are
urged by Buddhist priests to send their
children to these schools, and because
the influence Of the priests with the older
most always comply. Twenty thousand
children are enrolled in over 40 Japa-
nese schools.
The children, as a rule, do not wish
to attend these schools And no wonders
The regular public school opens at 9.
To attend the foreign language school
first, therefore they must rise at 6 or
even o'clock. They have to walk some
times five miles, eating breakfast "a
they go, or leaving It out entirely. AZ,
the foreign language school they spend
an hour or an hour and a half learning
the Japanese language-to speak, read
and write 1t and studying the history
and geography Of Japan. Instruction
IS given in the approved japanese style,
the children studying noisily and recit-
ing in parrot-like sing song
JAPANESE SCHOOL METHODS
TIRE MIND AND BODY.
Tired already, both in mind and body
the pupils troop over to the public
school at 9 o'clock, to sit stupidity whfle
an American teacher, or one trained in
the Hawaiian Normal School, tries 70
teach them to speak English, and to give
them modern education.
Even after the public school work
ends at ? o'clock the Oriental child may
not be at liberty. Some Of the foreign
language schools teach the older chill
dren in the morning and the younger
ones after 2. Others insist on the at
tendance Of all pupils at both sessions.
The complaint made universally by
teachers in the public schools of the
Islands is that these children are over.
taxed, and so tired that they cannot
learn the lessons presented in English.
Many Of them live in japanese colonies.
and speak English only at the public
school. Others hear at home a pidgins
English that is worse as a foundation
education than no vocabulary at all.
One teacher writes: Here is SAM
pie OF the English we get from little
japanese children of the first grade;
Little Red Riding Hocd-oh! Big teeth
grandmother eat Little Red Riding
Hood-oh! Grandmother big eyes see
little Red Riding Hood"
Another says: Il have found in nv
experience in Hawaii that if any school
work is to suffer it will be the work Of
the American school. The children try
enough-their efforts to keep ND the.
work Of both schools are often pitiful-
but the japanese schoolmaster viii see
that the work of the japanese school
comes first"
DR.. Bunker says that If the majority
OF these Orientals were transients in
Hawaii, and expected to return to Japan,
there would be reason in their deter
mination TO cling to japanese ties. He
thinks it natural that those Orientalsl
whose stay in the islands is to be brief
should want their children taught in
the language of their native country, and
be advocates that for such families prt-
rate schools should be permitted.
But the great majority of the Japanese
are not transients, and their children are
mostly American citizens. These chill
dren grow up proud of their status as
Americans, and this leads some people
to say that the foreign language schools
If left alone will die a natural death.
DR.. Bunker does not agree with this be-
lief
SELECT WIVES BY ebs
PICTURE SYSTEM. =
japanese men," he says, Especially
those of the old school, draw their wives
from Japan by the picture bride system.
In 1919, Sal of these picture brides
landed in Hawaii, and in the preceding
year, over 1000. So long as these women
come direct from Japan there will be a
first generation of Japanese in Hawaii
to teach its children, born Americans, the