The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1922-10-10
Maui Schools of
Yesterday and
Of the Present
(By n. M. WeIIs)

My connection with the Maui
Schools began in April. 1905. over II
years ago.
In looking over the Superintendent
report of that year one is struck with
the astonishing growth of our school
system during that time. In fact. were
1t not for these biennial landmarks,
one could hardly realize some of the
following facts of ancient history.
Ancient History
In 1906 Waikiki had only PIP pupils
with five teachers. These were easily
housed in the stone building, which
was just Their completed. 1t has now
about $50 pupils, with II teachers.
The same yea Lahaina had PAT pupils
with 5 teachers and was then, as now,
the county's largest school. They now
number $50 pupils and 25 teachers.
Puunene school was not yet on the
map. II was opened in 1906 with 81
pupils, in four rooms. II now has 20
teachers and about 700 pupils.
Kahului was a one-room school in
those days. 1t now has an enrolment
of 275, with five teachers.
The five-room school in Keahua was
not yet in existence. Spreckelsville
had al enrolment of 81 with two
teachers. 1t now has 275 pupils with
eight teachers.
Paia school was then housed in an
old shack on a back street. Its en-
rollment was then 1874, headed by the
veteran Mr.. Crook with 3 assistants.
Paia now has a staff of 81, and an en-
rollment of nearly 700.
Haiku boasted of only so pupils and
2 teachers. Now they have five times
that number with 8 teachers, while
Halehaku, another pineapple school
has grown fgrom a one-room school
of 43 pupils to an enrolment of $50,
with four teachers.
Makawao then had 10S pupils with
three teachers. 1t now has 1865 pupils
and 10 teachers.
Summing it all up there were in
Maui County at that time only 257S
pupils. Last June the enrolment was
1892, an increase of almost $50 per
cent.
Teaching Force
The teachers of those days num-
bered only 81 for the whole county.
Now there are 210, an increase of 200
per cent. In other words the super
vising principal of Maui County has
w three times as many teachers to
look after as he had in 1905. In the
schools of Central Maui w which l
now have direct supervision, there are
149 teachers. In 1905 there were in
these sam schools only 43 teachers.
This means an increase of over so per
cent.
There has been also a great change
in the character of the teaching force
of the county. According to the re-
port of December 1904, almost %
per cent of the teachers in Maui Coun-
ty had no certificate whatever; while
many more had second and third class
certificates, which are not o rec
ognized. In those days, too, the un-
certified teachers were found, for the
most part, in the remoter districts,
such as Hama and Molokai. Today,
not one uncertificated teacher is found
in these schools. The only schools
where such teachers are now employ
ed are in central Maui, where six or
eight such teachers are temporarily
employed until certiicated teachers
can be found to take their places.
Tourist Teachers
In 1905 there were no transient
mainland teachers on Maui. Last
year we had 65 such teachers. OF
these nearly so have either left the
service this veal or have been trans
ferred to other islands. While it is
true that we get very many most eX-
! cellent workers among these new
recruits from the mainland, and while
some of them bring fresh yigor and
enthusiasm TO their work, yet any
change of teachers means something
of a loss to a school, and when there
is a rnove of over so per cent of
the teachers of a given school every
year, it is hard TO build up a strong
school under such circumstances.
The Old Guard
Most of the principals of 1905 have
either left for more lucrative occupa-
tons, or else have passed over the
Great Divide. The veteran w. C..
Crook of Paia is still with us. hale
and hearty in his 95th year. Rose
Grams of Haou, later of Puunene.
Moses Kauhimahu of Kahului and
Copeland of Waikiki have all left the
service to seek a surer fortune in
other lines. Three principals, Mrs.
Sabey of Spreckelsville, Mr.. Kapoha-
kimohewa of Keokea and Mr.. Vincent
Of Kealahou are still doing business
at the old school site, Long may they
livei
In Memoriam
We repeat the names of he rest
with barred heads; Dickinson of La
hama, ID. ID. Baldwin of H~amakuapo-
l ko, Atwater of Haiku, Dowdle of Kau-
70 pakalua, Kaiwiaeae of Hama, Coke of
Waihee, Taylor OF Kipahulur Hardy
r of Makawao. Honored names all, of
? men who gave their lives best for
the upbuildinc Of the best in the lives
a NT-.sr- - .v,I 1u.rnI-arn