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raising of the standard of education in Queen's College has been that for the last twelve years, through entering for the Oxford Local Examinations, our boys have, with varying success, been able to submit to a test of their English attainments by English Examiners in England.
6. I feel confident that this brief historical review will not be misconstrued into an expression of satisfaction with either the progress made or the standard attained in so long a perio l as twenty years. My desire is merely to place on record a statement of the fact that some alvance, however inadequate, has been made in that time. No one cau be more eager or ambitious than myself to see the standard of work at Queen's College raised immeasurably higher; but I may perhaps be permitted to say that nobody knows better the inherent difficulties in the way. The formation of an Advanced Class above and beyond the First Class has long been a cherished scheme of mine. Unfortunately, however, less than half a dozen boys remain in the College at the beginning of the new school year, who would be fit to proceed to higher work; and of these we should have no assurance whatever that any would remain so long as even six months, whereas two years would be the least possible time, in which any result could be hoped to be effected; and in saying this I refer to both non-Chinese and Chinese alike. Of circumstances not under our control, it is to be noted that so long as Plague recurs annually in the Colony education must suffer.
7. The present inost crying educational neels of Queen's College would appear to be:-
(a.) the maintenance of the full strength of the English staff, vacancies being supplied as
expeditiously as possible;
(b.) more efficient training of Junior Chines. Assistants by the appointment of a Normal Master, who, for a small extra salary (like that of the Head Master of the Police School), should devote, in addition to his ordinary class duties, six hours a week to the careful instruction of Pupil Teachers ;
(e) the restoration of Native Chinese School for the boys in the Lower and Preparatory
Schools;
(d) the erection, or enlargement, of schools at Wanisai and Saiyingpun under English Masters, to act as feeders to Queen's College, the curriculum of which place would have to be carefully followed, that boys might on admission be fit for the Upper School or for Class IV at the lowest.
8. I returned to the Colony after eighteen months' leave and resumed duties on 1st November, 1901. Mr. A. J. MAY (Second Master) had been Acting Head Master during my absence, evidently devoting himself most energetically to foster the welfare of the College. I may especially mention that it was due to his judicious arrangements, that increased accommodation was provided at the beginning of the year, and that considerable improvement was secured in the results at the Annual and Oxford Local Examinations.
9. I found on my return three English and two Chinese Masters, all energetic and capable men, re- moved from the staff: Mr. MACHELL by death, Mr. BauLow by retirement on pension, Mr. WoodcNCK by transference to the Sanitary Board, Mr. PuN YUN FONG by resignation, and Mr. ÜN KAM WA on loan to the Supreme Court. If to these losses, we add the absence for four years as Acting Deputy Registrar, of Mr. JONES, the resignation of Mr. CHIU CHI-TSUNG and Mr. LUK KING-FO, and the transfer to the Supreme Court of Mr. WONG Kwok Ü, which took place a couple of years ago, we find that we have lost 4 Senior English and 5 Senior Chinese Masters.
10. A year was occupied in filling the vacancy caused by Mr. MACHELL'S retirement and subse- quent death, Mr. W. R. SEYMOUR of London University, who promises to be a useful addition to the staff, arriving in June last. There are still two vacancies caused in July and October, which we anxiously long to hear are suitably filled. It must be remembered that siz English masters were considered the minimum number necessary for the 400 boys at the Central School; it is therefore evid- ent that for 1,000 boys per month (and often per day) ten English masters are far indeed from an ex- travagant demand.
11. With only half the English staff present, and with Junior Chinese Assistants rapidly promoted to fill the vacancies caused by five changes in the Senior Chinese staff, while all the Chinese Assistants were temporarily raised three plees to supply the vacancies on the English staff-it is manifest that Mr. MAY had serious difficulties to cope with in securing the efficient working of the College, and that great credit is due to him and the English and Chinese masters for the considerable success gained.
12. The Governing Body instructed me to examine the Upper School this year, in addition to the Lower and Preparatory Schools, which by standing order are annually examined by the Head Master. Unfortunately at the beginning of the Oral Examination, I was absent for several days through indisposition. As no time could be spared, I was obliged to authorize Mr. MAY to examine Classes V-VIII in Reading, Classes V and VI in Conversation, and Class VII orally in Grammar. With these exceptions, and the omission of the Translation Papers from English into Chinese, which were as usual entrusted for marking to the Second Master, I have personally conducted the entire Examination of the 910 boys present..