The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1921-09-30
HOUSING

Something was started when the education department of Maui
Woman sClub criticised the housing conditions offered to new teach
the resulting publicity should bring results that will go to remedy
the causes of complaint that have been voiced.
Two widely different views of the subject are presented side by
side in this issue of Maui News. The comment thus far produced
shows that the subject presents many different facets to the minds
the newcomers, but that the attitude of teachers in Honolulu and of
Island resident teachers elsewhere must also have weight in the gen.
.eral consideration of the subject; that there is danger that in satisfy
ing the one, the others may feel they are being disseminated against:
One of the letters printed today indicates that the supplying of
furniture in such places as do supply it is not meeting with the prom
Used result, the keeping of teachers in such schools year after year;
that they migrate from such schools about as rapidly as from the
ones where rooms are unfinished. The other holds that uncomfort-
able quarters Is the primary basis OF discomfort among teachers from
the mainland. The one considers such teachers largely birds of pas
sage, working their way through sightseeing tours; the other looks
upon them as earnest workers, discouraged by adverse circumstances.
1t is properly asked whether Island teachers will be satisfied to
receive the same salaries as those coming from the mainland, to Sc
cure their own living quarters when the others have rooms and fur
niture supplied to them, or whether they will consider that the grant
ing of such furnished room is equivalent to the payment of a higher
salary to the stranger than to the Islander, a discrimination against
the Island teacher. The same thing applies to Honolulu teachers,
where there are no teachers cottages on school grounds.
One thing stands out clearly. There is a rule of the department
of public instruction that, generally, a teacher coming from the main
land mustNserve a year outside Honolulu to prove her ability. There
is ever the desire to be in the larger community, where there are
more social life. Teachers who come to the Islands and seek city
life here will not remain satisfied in the smaller communities no mat
ter how well they are housed, but will gravtate to the larger center.
So long as that rule prevails many teachers will stay only one year in
the smaller communities, the more remote schools.
This does not alter the other aspect that it is asking too much of
a teacher to pay her transportation here and then to make a further
outlay for furniture or furnishings from an already SADLY depleted
purse.
AS to the point as to who should be made responsible for the see
ing that the cottages are in condition for the occupancy of new teach
ers, that is a matter which should be determined. AT present it lies
with the department of public instruction. If the county authorities
are to be held responsible, then that should be made clearly under
stood. The condition as it stands is somewhat similar to holding the
county responsible if the Kula sanitarium were no. kept in the spen-
did receiving shape that ,itis a commission is responsible for that
institution and look after its needs SO the department II public m
structon is practically a trustee for the countys interest in the
school buildings and cottages. If the board of supervisors are to be
held responsible, then there should be some different arrangement as
Observation-Disclosures rhan now exists.