MR HOWELL ON TOUR.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14979, 28 May 1914, Page 2

MR HOWELL ON TOUR.

EDUCATION IN HAWAII

At a special meeting of the North Canterbury Education Board, held yesterday morning, a very long and comprehensive report was read from Mr J. H. Howell, director of tho Christchurch Technical College, upon his impressions of scholastic and educational life at Honolulu, in the Hawaiian Islands. Mr Howell reported that ho had spent seven days there, and had been greatly impressed with the educational activities of "the Paradise of the Pacific." Mr Howell first of all pointed out that the population of the islands was very but in spite of this the greatest kindliness existed on all sides. In one school visited there were ten nationalities amongst the staff and twelve amongst the pupils. No atmosrphere of aloofness or distrust obtained —on the contrary, brightness and cordiality were conspicuous on both sides. This was specially inculcated by the Department. .The educational 6ystem was broadly on the same lines as in the leading New Zealand towns, and included free kindergarten primary schools, public high school, and four large endowed secondary schools, a normal training school, and the College of Hawaii. The equipment of all the schools was modern and up to date. The Normal School had 165 pupils, and the largest primary school 1032. Attendance was compulsory from six to seventeen years of age, with certain exceptions. The curfew law obtained in the islands, and children under ' fifteen were forbidden to be abroad after 7 o'clock or before four in the morning, except when accompanied by an adult. The staffing system was on the ecale of one teacher to thirty-five children, and the salaries of teachers were dependent upon the years of service. Of the teachers, 21 per cent, were men. Mr Howell gave a detailed criticism of the curriculum of the various classes and echools, and went on to say that practical medical work was being done by trained nurses in the schools. Incipient troubles were detected and dealt with. In some of the primary schools a system of self-government had been established, and in this way trapils rendered valuable help to the teachers and acquired a practical knowledge of the civio government in which they would afterwards take part.