Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Report: Hawaii Public School Teachers (The Polynesian May 1, 1852)

In the days when Hawaii was governed as a monarchy the kingdom published its own official newspaper. The Polynesian was first published in 1841 followed by a twenty-year run spanning 1844-1864.

Hawaii has a rich history of public and religious schools chronicled in The Polynesian and other newspapers. For the edification of our readers we will be producing from time to time excerpts of news articles pertaining to Hawaii’s evolving educational system.

The following is an excerpt from the 1852 Report of the Minister of Instruction –Richard Armstrong- read before the King (Kamehameha III) and the Hawaiian Legislature, 14th April, 1852:

“The teachers of public schools receive a license from the inspector of the district, with the approbation of the local trustees in each case, after examination on the elementary branches of reading, writing, arithmetic and geography. Their number is determined by the wants of the district. They are required to exhibit evidence of good moral character, but no religious test is applied. By way of accommodation to the popular feeling, and the state of the schools, previous to the existence of a district Department of instruction, the Government has allowed the schools to have teachers, whose religious sympathies are in common with those of the parents of the children placed under their instruction; but the law recognizes no distinction, gives the schools no religious or denominational character, and assumes no control of the religious education of the young. As a matter of fact, however, religious instruction is imparted freely and without hindrance, in all the public schools; in no country is it more so, so long as the branches required by law are not neglected.”

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