92
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 6TH MARCH, 1869.
Great Republic,.
China,
New York,....
China,
Colorado,
Great Republic,.
Japan,
China,
Great Republic,
Japan,
DEPARTURE.
Name of Packet.
Date of Departure .
from Hongkong.
Date of Arrival at San Francisco.
Number of Days occupied in the Voyage.
1868.
1868.
January
16
February
16
32
'February
25
March
31
36
April
19
May
18
30
May
26
June
26
32
July
15
August
16
33
August
15
September
19
36
September
15
October
20
30
October
15
November
22
38
November December
16
December
22
37
16
Recript not yet acknowledged.
Total,.
F. W. MITCHELL, Postmaster General.
•
General Post Office, Hongkong, 15th February, 1869.
No. 23.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The following Annual Report on the state of the Government Schools in Hongkong for the Year 1868, is published for general information.
By Command,.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 4th March, 1869.
J. GARDINER AUSTIN,
Colonial Secretary.
VICTORIA, HONGKONG, 15th February, 1869.
SIR, I have the honour to forward to you the Annual Report on the state of the Government Schools in this Colony for the year 1868.
2.-Adhering to the old distinction between the Central School and the Village Schools, I shall commence with the former. 3.-The year was one of considerable anxiety. There were, first, the interruptions and inconveniences caused by the erection of a new class-room. Then, an attempt had been made to introduce a new subject-Algebra into the school-work, and I was afraid that not only would very partial success attend the experiment, but that it would be conducted at the expense of something more elementary and, therefore, more useful.
4.-The result of the year's work, tested as usual by written examinations and a strict system of marking, showed that, in both cases, fears were groundless. The annoyance proceeding from the building operations caused no diminution or irregu- larity in the attendance; and, although it was disappointing in a few cases to find boys in the first class getting more marks for Algebra than for Arithmetic, yet, on the whole, there was marked progress for the year. The standard of examination, too, in all the classes, both English and Chinese, was considerably higher than in previous years, but the result dispelled any additional anxiety that may have been felt on that account.
5.-The success thus obtained can only be considered partial, and does not diminish the necessity for the additional assistance which is now expected. In the present state of the school, the best division into classes that can be made still leaves, especially in the higher ones, considerable inequality as regards the attainments of the scholars. To proceed to advanced subjects is, in such a case, to neglect the portion of the class which cannot follow, and to attempt solely to bring up the backward is to disregard the interests of those who are capable of making more rapid progress. This happens more or less in all schools, but it is to be hoped that, in the course of a few years, when the difficulties which attend a recent undertaking have been overcome, and when the system which has been adopted is carried out, not as at present it can be, but as it is in- tended to be, this drawback to the school will be so far removed as to cause but little hindrance to improvement.
6. The year has been characterized by much greater attention to, and apparent pleasure in, certain subjects which were before gone through mechanically, under a sort of tacit protest. Till within the last twelve months, anything beyond the mere acquisition of English was evidently looked on as so much waste of time. This is not so much the case now, and it seems to be mainly attributable to two causes,-first, the difficulty in getting situations in mercantile houses, and secondly, to a recent regulation by the Inspector General of Chinese Customs with reference to the examination which candidates for ad- mission into that service are expected to pass.
7.-The former of these causes seems to act in this way. The boys, like many other people in the place, hope that the period of commercial difficulties will soon terminate, and that brighter prospects will soon be before them. In the meantime, they think they may as well occupy their time with all the lessons which are prescribed to them. The haste to get employ- ment having been stopped, their minds are left in a fitter state to give attention to work which they previously undervalued, if not despised. The benefit to themselves cannot fail to be great, and if it corresponds to the pleasure which it gives their teachers to see this change, they will never regret that the previous facilities of getting employment have been so much diminished. 8.-The second cause has been very marked in its operation. A situation in the Customs' service is an object of ambition to many of the boys, not only from the high salaries which are offered, but from the respectable position in which it places them. During the course of the year, the standard of examination was raised and a few new subjects added. The interest was received by the boys was great, with which the announcement of higher salaries and a higher standard of acquirements and I shall not regret to see the Inspector General make a few more additions to the subjects of examination.
9.-It may be objected that this tends to deprive the Colony of the services of the boys, and that no equivalent is thus The number in each year competent to join the obtained for the expense incurred in educating them. I do not think so. service is but small, and were it greater, the Colony need not regret it. If direct advantages are not obtained, the indirect ad- vantages are evident; and the more the boys are scattered over the Empire the greater, it is to be hoped, will be the good