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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 7TH MARCH, 1874.
do not see the necessity of it for their children, unless it can be had in a way which brings some present and direct advantage to themselves. On the principle, therefore, that it is better for the children to have some instruction than to have none, the schools should be maintained. By constant vigilance, improvements although necessarily slow cannot fail to be effected.
6. During the year, the number enrolled at these schools was 338, giving each an average of 24. The attendance is not very regular, the two harvests and other field work taking away the children for a considerable time. Towards the end of the year, too, the numbers rapidly decrease, for no reason that can be assigned except the fact that in these villages time is of very little account, and a month or two less at school in the course of the year is a matter of no importance. On the whole, however, there is considerable improvement on the state of things three years ago.
7. In last Report, the schools at Yau-má Tí and Little Hongkong were mentioned as having given rise to much annoyance. After the Chinese New Year, on a promise being made of a change for the better, the schools were continued as they were: At Yau-má Tí, it was soon discovered that the master and a number of the people were doing their utmost to prevent the erection of the Police Station in the village. The school was then taken away from local control, and is now one of the Government schools properly so called. This change was made in June, when the numbers fell at once from 22 to 8; and, although they afterwards reached 17 in November, the opposition made to the change by the former master and his friends kept the school in a very unsatisfactory state up to the end of the year. The present master, however, has had many promises of scholars after the New Year holidays, and if these promises are kept the Yau-má Tí school will be very differently reported on next year.
8. A new master was appointed to the school at Little Hongkong in the month of March, and the grant was continued, with the understanding that on the next complaint it would be permanently withdrawn. The villagers have, this time, got a man of a very different temper from that of the previous one, who would not bate a tittle of his rights. The present master makes no complaints, but it is currently reported and generally believed in Aberdeen and other adjacent places that, instead of receiving anything, he has to give monthly presents to certain of the villagers for the privilege of getting their children to teach. The school has improved considerably under the pre- sent master. In order of efficiency it was last on the list in 1872. It is now twentieth, but it will be long before it is in a very satisfactory state, if the people continue to do as they have been doing.
9. The number enrolled at the 15 schools which are entirely under Government control was 998, giving an average of 67 scholars to each. These schools are now getting into a very satisfactory condition, as far as numbers and regularity are concerned. They were long a source of much trouble. A school would be first on the list this year and at the bottom of it the next, without any very apparent reason for the change. No doubt the getting quit of many unqualified masters, and the fact that both masters and scholars now know better what is expected of them, have gone far to bring this about. These schools, ten years ago, were as unsatisfactory as the aided schools are now; and it is this which gives rise to the hope that before another decade is over an equally great change will have taken place in all the native schools in the Colony
10. The best of the 15 schools is the one at Stanley. The present master has the credit of making it what it is. It is a model of order and regularity, and is in high esteem in the village. The master, however, is very unwilling to remain. He is dissatisfied with the place, as it removes him so far from anything like congenial society. The people, too, do not seem to live together in great harmony, and he is very much afraid of getting mixed up with their disputes. It will be a serious matter for the school if he cannot be persuaded to remain.
11. The schools at Sai-ying Pún, Sheung Wan, Tái Wong Kung, Wántsai and Sháu kí Wán come next in order. At these, the attendance is very large and very regular. At no place has the advantage of a good master been so evident as at Shẩu-kí Wán. Three years ago, it had become a question whether any further attempt should be made to maintain a school in the village. When a Hákká master was appointed, failure was attributed to the indifference of the people. When he was succeeded by a Púnti, similar excuses were never wanting. Under the present master, both Púntis and Hákkás avail themselves of the school, and express themselves as highly satisfied. If the people were more straightforward when anything is really amiss with a school, salutary changes would be effected more rapidly; but, as a rule, they are studiously silent until their information is no longer of any use.
12. The change at Aberdeen, recommended last year, has now been carried into effect. The best scholar at the Central School was appointed master. English is taught in the forenoon and Chinese in the afternoon. Nothing more was attempted than reading, writing and arithmetic, and possibly little more may be effected during the present year. The little, however, that was attempted was well done; and, taking all things into consideration, the examination at the end of the year was sufficiently satisfactory.
13. The change took place in March, and before the end of the month, 18 scholars were enrolled. They came in very gradually. The new régime was not so popular as some expected; but it was much better that the school should gradually make its way, than be frequented at first and ultimately deserted. The attendance was very regular for six months; but, after that, it declined rapidly, till in November there were only seven scholars. The master got disheartened and insisted on re-