Template:630-631 - Revision history

Jere Krischel at 23:52, 5 January 2006

2006-01-05T23:52:48Z

Ken Conklin at 07:11, 2 January 2006

2006-01-02T07:11:59Z

Jere Krischel at 18:54, 11 December 2005

2005-12-11T18:54:44Z

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030 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
The CHAIRMAN. Are they teaching chemistry, etc.!
Mr. ALEXANDER. They have never tried to teach chemistrj in the
Hawaiian language.
The CHAIRMAN. Were you ever in charge of the public school system
in Hawaii!
Mr. ALEXANDER. I have been a member of the board of education
for a long time.
The CHAIRMAN. HOW long?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Since 1887.
The CHAIRMAN. What proportion of the native Kanaka population
over 10 years of age are now enabled to read and write, either in their
own language or in the English language?
Mr. ALEXANDER. I could not give a definite statement of the proportion
of the adult Kanakas who can read and write correctly. Most
of them have a smattering of the English.
The CHAIRMAN. I do not mean to read and write correctly, but to
read and write in their own language.
Mr. ALEXANDER. I think from 10 to 15 they understand considerable
English.
The CHAIRMAN. Can they read and write in their own language? I
am speaking of their capacity to read and write.
Mr. ALEXANDER. In their own language I suppose nine-tenths. It
is very easy to read and write the Hawaiian language.
The CHAIRMAN. I wish to know whether the art of reading and
writing has been acquired by the people there, and to what extent.
Mr. ALEXANDER. We have had compulsory education there for a
good many years. If a child does not go to school he is taken up by
the truant officer, and the parents are taken to account. So that the
natives can read and write their own language.
The CHAIRMAN. At what age?
Mr. ALEXANDER. I should say certainly all by 15, and probably
nine-tenths of those above 10 years of age. Their language is written
phonetically, so that there is no difficulty in spelling.
Senator FRYE. Prof. Alexander stated the physical conditions and
all that sort of thing, but he did not say what religious advancement
the children made.
The CHAIRMAN. What was the religious condition of Hawaii when
you were a child ?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Very ignorant. They had the most crude ideas
about religion; they were very eager to get ideas. They were very
receptive at that time, and it was a great pleasure to teach them at
that time.
The CHAIRMAN. What was their religion?
Mr. ALEXANDER. They had thrown away their idols—their taboos.
But they had a great deal of superstition still, particularly about
sorcery. I think the most injurious superstition they have is in regard
to the cause of disease—sickness. They think that diseases are caused
supernaturally.
The CHAIRMAN. In your childhood was this condition of ignorance
and paganism almost universal?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Almost universal.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the degree of the improvement?
Mr. ALEXANDER. At the present time they are all nominal Christians
—Catholics, Protestants, Episcopalians, Mormons. There is yet more
or less of underlying superstition spread among the natives.
The CHAIRMAN. Religion is free under your laws and constitution?
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 631
Mr. ALEXANDER. Entirely. The old superstitions, about the cause
of sickness and about sorcery have never been rooted out.
The CHAIRMAN. IS there any connection out there between the
church and state?
Mr. ALEXANDER. There never has been.
The CHAIRMAN. Are churches found commonly in Hawaii?
Mr. ALEXANDER. The population has been decreased so that there
are a great many churches standing where there is no population—
empty churches in some districts.
The CHAIRMAN. HOW about schoolhouses; have they been abundtauly
supplied to the people?
Mr. ALEXANDER. At present pretty well. I joined the Board of
Education in 1887. There was then a great deficiency of schoolhouses.
During the reign of Kalakaua government money was diverted to
other purposes. But a great many schoolhouses were built, improvements
made, and at present schoolhouses are pretty well provided.
The CHAIRMAN. Are they comfortable schoolhouses?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Furnished with proper furniture?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes. By American methods; furniture imported
by the United States or made there in accordance, I might say, with
the Hawaiian school system. They received a gold medal at the Paris
Exposition.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the school age there according to law?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Seven to fourteen.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it a part of that system that all the young population
that are able to go to school, physically qualified for being
taught, shall attend the school?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Very nearly. There has been a want of school
accommodation in some school districts, and we could not compel them
until we had schoolhouses enough. At the present time we have pretty
nearly caught up.
The CHAIRMAN. So that it might be said that the native youth of
Hawaii are universally under process of education?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Very nearly.
The CHAIRMAN. DO the Chinese, Japanese, and Portuguese send
their children to those schools ?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes; they are obliged to, except where they
attend a private school. There are about eleven thousand childrer
there in schools and three thousand of these are in the private schools
The Chinese and Japanese have not many children; a great maiorUv
of them are adult males.
Mr. CHAIRMAN. But the Chinese and Japanese are subject to this
compulsory education the same as the Hawaiian!
Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes. The Chinese have a few Chinese schools
The CHAIRMAN. Out of what funds are these schools sustained?
Mr. ALEXANDER. In the first place there is a poll tax devoted to it
school tax; and the school tax of each district has to be expended in
that district. The school tax is kept separate, and can not be touched
for any other purpose. Even through Kalakaua's reign that was kept
separate. This is not enough, and the Legislature has to appropriate
largely to supplement that.
The CHAIRMAN. What is about the annual expenditure for school
purposes in Hawaii—I mean Governmental expenditure?
Mr. ALEXANDER. It is very difficult to say, the way the accounts
have been kept. There is a school tax, and then there is a large amount

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
+{{p|630}}
-The CHAIRMAN. Are they teaching chemistry, etc.!
-Mr. ALEXANDER. They have never tried to teach chemistrj in the
+The CHAIRMAN. Are they teaching chemistry, etc.?
 Hawaiian language.
-The CHAIRMAN. Were you ever in charge of the public school system
+Mr. ALEXANDER. They have never tried to teach chemistry in the Hawaiian language.
-in Hawaii!
-Mr. ALEXANDER. I have been a member of the board of education
+The CHAIRMAN. Were you ever in charge of the public school system in Hawaii?
 for a long time.
-The CHAIRMAN. HOW long?
+Mr. ALEXANDER. I have been a member of the board of education for a long time.
 Mr. ALEXANDER. Since 1887.
-The CHAIRMAN. What proportion of the native Kanaka population
+The CHAIRMAN. How long?
 over 10 years of age are now enabled to read and write, either in their
-own language or in the English language?
+Mr. ALEXANDER. Since 1887.
 Mr. ALEXANDER. I could not give a definite statement of the proportion
-of the adult Kanakas who can read and write correctly. Most
+The CHAIRMAN. What proportion of the native Kanaka population over 10 years of age are now enabled to read and write, either in their own language or in the English language?
 of them have a smattering of the English.
-The CHAIRMAN. I do not mean to read and write correctly, but to
+Mr. ALEXANDER. I could not give a definite statement of the proportion of the adult Kanakas who can read and write correctly. Most of them have a smattering of the English.
 read and write in their own language.
-Mr. ALEXANDER. I think from 10 to 15 they understand considerable
+The CHAIRMAN. I do not mean to read and write correctly, but to read and write in their own language.
 English.
-The CHAIRMAN. Can they read and write in their own language? I
+Mr. ALEXANDER. I think from 10 to 15 they understand considerable English.
 am speaking of their capacity to read and write.
-Mr. ALEXANDER. In their own language I suppose nine-tenths. It
+The CHAIRMAN. Can they read and write in their own language? I am speaking of their capacity to read and write.
 is very easy to read and write the Hawaiian language.
-The CHAIRMAN. I wish to know whether the art of reading and
+Mr. ALEXANDER. In their own language I suppose nine-tenths. It is very easy to read and write the Hawaiian language.
 writing has been acquired by the people there, and to what extent.
-Mr. ALEXANDER. We have had compulsory education there for a
+The CHAIRMAN. I wish to know whether the art of reading and writing has been acquired by the people there, and to what extent.
 good many years. If a child does not go to school he is taken up by
-the truant officer, and the parents are taken to account. So that the
+Mr. ALEXANDER. We have had compulsory education there for a good many years. If a child does not go to school he is taken up by the truant officer, and the parents are taken to account. So that the natives can read and write their own language.
 natives can read and write their own language.
 The CHAIRMAN. At what age?
 Mr. ALEXANDER. I should say certainly all by 15, and probably
-nine-tenths of those above 10 years of age. Their language is written
+Mr. ALEXANDER. I should say certainly all by 15, and probably nine-tenths of those above 10 years of age. Their language is written phonetically, so that there is no difficulty in spelling.
 phonetically, so that there is no difficulty in spelling.
-Senator FRYE. Prof. Alexander stated the physical conditions and
+Senator FRYE. Prof. Alexander stated the physical conditions and all that sort of thing, but he did not say what religious advancement the children made.
 all that sort of thing, but he did not say what religious advancement
-the children made.
+The CHAIRMAN. What was the religious condition of Hawaii when you were a child ?
 The CHAIRMAN. What was the religious condition of Hawaii when
-you were a child ?
+Mr. ALEXANDER. Very ignorant. They had the most crude ideas about religion; they were very eager to get ideas. They were very receptive at that time, and it was a great pleasure to teach them at that time.
 Mr. ALEXANDER. Very ignorant. They had the most crude ideas
-about religion; they were very eager to get ideas. They were very
+The CHAIRMAN. What was their religion?
 receptive at that time, and it was a great pleasure to teach them at
-that time.
+Mr. ALEXANDER. They had thrown away their idols—their taboos. But they had a great deal of superstition still, particularly about sorcery. I think the most injurious superstition they have is in regard to the cause of disease—sickness. They think that diseases are caused supernaturally.
 The CHAIRMAN. What was their religion?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. They had thrown away their idols—their taboos.
+The CHAIRMAN. In your childhood was this condition of ignorance and paganism almost universal?
 But they had a great deal of superstition still, particularly about
-sorcery. I think the most injurious superstition they have is in regard
+Mr. ALEXANDER. Almost universal.
 to the cause of disease—sickness. They think that diseases are caused
-supernaturally.
+The CHAIRMAN. What is the degree of the improvement?
 The CHAIRMAN. In your childhood was this condition of ignorance
-and paganism almost universal?
+Mr. ALEXANDER. At the present time they are all nominal Christians —Catholics, Protestants, Episcopalians, Mormons. There is yet more or less of underlying superstition spread among the natives.
 Mr. ALEXANDER. Almost universal.
-The CHAIRMAN. What is the degree of the improvement?
+The CHAIRMAN. Religion is free under your laws and constitution?
 Mr. ALEXANDER. At the present time they are all nominal Christians
-—Catholics, Protestants, Episcopalians, Mormons. There is yet more
+{{p|631}}
 or less of underlying superstition spread among the natives.
-The CHAIRMAN. Religion is free under your laws and constitution?
+Mr. ALEXANDER. Entirely. The old superstitions, about the cause of sickness and about sorcery have never been rooted out.
-HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 631
-Mr. ALEXANDER. Entirely. The old superstitions, about the cause
+The CHAIRMAN. Is there any connection out there between the church and state?
 of sickness and about sorcery have never been rooted out.
-The CHAIRMAN. IS there any connection out there between the
+Mr. ALEXANDER. There never has been.
 church and state?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. There never has been.
+The CHAIRMAN. Are churches found commonly in Hawaii?
 The CHAIRMAN. Are churches found commonly in Hawaii?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. The population has been decreased so that there
+Mr. ALEXANDER. The population has been decreased so that there are a great many churches standing where there is no population— empty churches in some districts.
 are a great many churches standing where there is no population—
-empty churches in some districts.
+The CHAIRMAN. How about schoolhouses; have they been abundanly supplied to the people?
-The CHAIRMAN. HOW about schoolhouses; have they been abundtauly
-supplied to the people?
+Mr. ALEXANDER. At present pretty well. I joined the Board of Education in 1887. There was then a great deficiency of schoolhouses. During the reign of Kalakaua government money was diverted to other purposes. But a great many schoolhouses were built, improvements made, and at present schoolhouses are pretty well provided.
 Mr. ALEXANDER. At present pretty well. I joined the Board of
-Education in 1887. There was then a great deficiency of schoolhouses.
+The CHAIRMAN. Are they comfortable schoolhouses?
 During the reign of Kalakaua government money was diverted to
-other purposes. But a great many schoolhouses were built, improvements
+Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes.
 made, and at present schoolhouses are pretty well provided.
-The CHAIRMAN. Are they comfortable schoolhouses?
+The CHAIRMAN. Furnished with proper furniture?
 Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes.
-The CHAIRMAN. Furnished with proper furniture?
+Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes. By American methods; furniture imported by the United States or made there in accordance, I might say, with the Hawaiian school system. They received a gold medal at the Paris Exposition.
 Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes. By American methods; furniture imported
-by the United States or made there in accordance, I might say, with
+The CHAIRMAN. What is the school age there according to law?
 the Hawaiian school system. They received a gold medal at the Paris
-Exposition.
+Mr. ALEXANDER. Seven to fourteen.
 The CHAIRMAN. What is the school age there according to law?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. Seven to fourteen.
+The CHAIRMAN. Is it a part of that system that all the young population that are able to go to school, physically qualified for being taught, shall attend the school?
 The CHAIRMAN. Is it a part of that system that all the young population
-that are able to go to school, physically qualified for being
+Mr. ALEXANDER. Very nearly. There has been a want of school accommodation in some school districts, and we could not compel them until we had schoolhouses enough. At the present time we have pretty nearly caught up.
 taught, shall attend the school?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. Very nearly. There has been a want of school
+The CHAIRMAN. So that it might be said that the native youth of Hawaii are universally under process of education?
 accommodation in some school districts, and we could not compel them
-until we had schoolhouses enough. At the present time we have pretty
+Mr. ALEXANDER. Very nearly.
 nearly caught up.
-The CHAIRMAN. So that it might be said that the native youth of
+The CHAIRMAN. Do the Chinese, Japanese, and Portuguese send their children to those schools?
 Hawaii are universally under process of education?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. Very nearly.
+Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes; they are obliged to, except where they attend a private school. There are about eleven thousand children there in schools and three thousand of these are in the private schools. The Chinese and Japanese have not many children; a great maiority of them are adult males.
-The CHAIRMAN. DO the Chinese, Japanese, and Portuguese send
-their children to those schools ?
+Mr. CHAIRMAN. But the Chinese and Japanese are subject to this compulsory education the same as the Hawaiian?
 Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes; they are obliged to, except where they
-attend a private school. There are about eleven thousand childrer
+Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes. The Chinese have a few Chinese schools.
 there in schools and three thousand of these are in the private schools
-The Chinese and Japanese have not many children; a great maiorUv
+The CHAIRMAN. Out of what funds are these schools sustained?
 of them are adult males.
-Mr. CHAIRMAN. But the Chinese and Japanese are subject to this
+Mr. ALEXANDER. In the first place there is a poll tax devoted to it, school tax; and the school tax of each district has to be expended in that district. The school tax is kept separate, and can not be touched for any other purpose. Even through Kalakaua's reign that was kept separate. This is not enough, and the Legislature has to appropriate largely to supplement that.
-compulsory education the same as the Hawaiian!
-Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes. The Chinese have a few Chinese schools
+The CHAIRMAN. What is about the annual expenditure for school purposes in Hawaii—I mean Governmental expenditure?
 The CHAIRMAN. Out of what funds are these schools sustained?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. In the first place there is a poll tax devoted to it
+Mr. ALEXANDER. It is very difficult to say, the way the accounts have been kept. There is a school tax, and then there is a large amount