922
15 The result of the examination just held by me for prize purposes, and on which suitable pro- motions can be made next month, appears to me very satisfactory, 645 boys out of 676 examined, or 95 per cent. having passed. I did not expect so good a result, as the transfer of the school in the middle of the summer upset all the arrangements for the year, and 494 boys, i.e., all below Class IVA. were examined on barely a half-year's work in the classes to which they were allotted. But masters and boys were determined not to bring discredit on the College and they deserve much credit for their success. Though not wishing to intrench on the province of the Inspector of Schools, I cannot refrain from pointing out that the great weakness in the Lower School betrayed in Arithmetic is compensated by the unusually good results in English Grammar. In the Upper School (6 sections) remarkably good work was done, though IIIB. is only moderate in its tone. Classes IVA. and VB. are conspicuous for high class work in the 9 sections of the Lower School, and Class VIIA. of the 5 sections of the Preparatory School deserves special mention.
16. Last July we sent up ten boys. Of these eight passed, three as Seniors and being under nineteen years of age were declared Associates in Arts, while five passed the Junior Examination.
17. The following Table gives some idea of the manner in which the teaching of English subjects has been extended in the school, together with the introduction of higher subjects in the Upper Classes. The figures are the total number of boys examined in each subject in the following years.
1881.
1885.
1839.
Trans. E to C,................
C to E,
301
379
676
301
379
676
Grammar,
172
312
547
Geography,
144
253
477
Composition,
83
127
360
History,
30
75
143
Euclid,
75
143
Algebra,
75
143
Mensuration,
25
24
Latin,
117
General Intelligence,.
83
Shakespeare,.
24
Trigonometry,
17
...
18. That this College supplies a large demand for clerks in this Colony is sufficiently attested by the following facts culled from the Annual Summary of the past six years; 32 appointments have been obtained in the Colonial Service, 150 boys have been engaged by European professional and mercantile firms in the Colony, besides many clerks engaged by Hongkong firms for Japan, Shanghai and the Coast Ports. The Chinese Government too has in this period employed from this School 80 boys in its Customs, Medical, Diplomatic and Telegraph services.
19. I will conclude by expressing the gratitude of the masters and boys to the many friends of this College who continue year after year, so generously to provide prizes for the encouragement of our young students. The Government Grant on this head, liberal as it is, would go but a small way
in providing rewards for 21 English and 12 Chinese classes. But these donations coming, as they do, from all nationalities and all classes should be viewed in a further light, as an expression of public interest in the work done in these walls, and as a vote of public confidence in the manner in which that work is performed.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
GEO. H. BATESON WRIGHT, M.A., Oxon.,
Head Master.
Honourable A. LISTER,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
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