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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 18TH MARCII, 1971.
7. It would occupy too much space either to give the examination lists and papers or to analyse them minutely. They are, however, all recorded and are available at any time when required. The boys themselves take great interest in these lists. They carefully note the number of marks they have gained in each particular subject and take them as a guide to future study. The masters, too, look forward to the results with no little anxiety, as they find in them a test of their success or failure in teaching. The work of examination is necessarily very laborious, but what is gained by it more than compensates for the unusual exertion.
8. The first or highest class was examined in ten subjects,-Algebra, Arithmetic, Chemistry, Dictation, English Composition, Geography, Geometry, Grammar, Translation from Chinese into English, and Translation from English into Chinese. The total number of marks assigned to these subjects was 780, and the marks gained by the first six on the list were respectively 683, 669, 669, 655, 643, and 633. After these, nine had over 500, siv over 400, and four over 360 marks.
9. The other classes were examined on the same subjects,--Algebra, Chemistry, and Geometry excepted, these being confined, at presunt, exclusively to the senior class. The general result of the examinations, previously referred to, must suffice, in this Report, for indicating the way in which these classes passed.
10. The Chemistry class, after a full year's experience, can now be reported on with some confidence. The course for the year embraced the most important of the non-metallic elements. No text-book has as yet been used and it is a doubtful point whether one should be used, because the oral instruction given both ensures attention on the part of the class and is also a test of their knowledge of English, the only language which is spoken.. The class has been conducted in this way. On Saturday, a lesson is given with experiments. On Monday, the boys bring in English an account of what they have heard and seen,- -an exercise which serves the double purpose of fixing the lesson on their minds and of practising them in composition. In the course of the week, an hour is devoted to oral examination on the last, and a revisal of the preceding, subjects. There can be no hesitation in saying that this part of the school work is thoroughly enjoyed and, if one may judge by the papers written at the examination, not unprofited by.
11. The three junior classes are now taught the elements of Music, but this has been too lately introduced to permit of any report on the progress inade. One lesson of one hour a week is all that has yet been attempted, although it is very questionable if such short time gives either class or subject fair play. At the same time, it is impossible at the Central School, where a language has to be acquired, to give the same time to such subjects as is given in schools where only one language is required of the scholars and that their mother-tongue.
12. Drawing will be commenced in the three senior classes as soon as the materials arrive from Ergland. There will then be an extra subject for each of the English masters,-for the Head Master chemistry, for the Second Master drawing, and for the Third Master music. 2 need not say that these will be treated strictly as extra subjects. Nothing must be allowed to interfere with or, at least, to impede the learning of English.
13. The number of boys other than Chinese is gradually increasing and, in a few years, will necessitate another master and an additional class-room. There are now 5 English, 2 Portuguese, 2 Japanese, and 14 Indian boys. The number of half-caste boys, too, has lately increased consider- ably. With this difference, that they are of a livelier temperament, owing probably to a less restrained up-bringing, and that they can enunciate more easily and clearly than their Chinese school- fellows, due no doubt to their being accustomed from their infancy to the jargon which passes English here, there is not much to distinguish them from those of purely Chinese descent. If any thing, they are rather worse to manage, but when one considers the extreme docility of Chinese boys this trait scarcely deserves a passing notice. A school of Chinese boys is a disciplinarian's paradise.
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14. In the course of the year, 95 boys left school. Of these, 40 are in business, some as inter- preters, some as clerks, some as assistant compradores, some as assistants in Chinese shops, some as brokers, printers, and so on. Some have gone to California, some to Japan, others to Tientsin, Shanghai, Foochow, Canton, Macao, Saigon, Annam, and Bombay, while 25 remain in Hongkong. Of the remainder, 8 left on account of sickness, 18 left the Colony along with their parents, 14 were removed from the roll principally for irregularities, 6 went to Chinese schools, 6 left for causes un- known, 1 was poor, I died, and 1 was married. Why the last should have considered himself excused it is difficult to say, for nearly all in the first class and many of those in the second are married.
15. There is nothing special to report in connection with the Chinese classes. They are three The same time is devoted to Chinese as to in number and under three very competent masters. English, that is, four hours a day to each. Every effort is made, by weekly revisals and occasional examinations, to ensure as much attention to this part of the work as to that of the English classes; and this is the more necessary, as a good deal of latent opposition has to be encountered in the teaching of Chinese in the school. The people have very deeply rooted notions of their own as to the selection of masters and the number of scholars whom one master should teach; and teaching by classes, while admitted to be very good in the teaching of English is declared to be altogether unsuitable for the teaching of Chinese. Patience and perseverance will enable the school to outlive these prejudices..