.479.-
'HIS LORDSHIP'S LETTER OF THE 20TH MARCH.
8. "The best course to adopt, etc."
His Lordship's second and third suggestions present in three lines an alternative to a report which, with all its shortcomings, is the result of several months' hard work. We had thought that to discover how the training of masters and teachers was to be accomplished, and how the alteration in the educational machinery was to proceed, were the objects of our enquiry. His Lordship appears to consider that to re-enunciate these problems is a satisfactory conclusion of our endeavours.
While differing with His Lordship on these points we cannot but thank him warmly for the very kind and courteous manner in which he performed his duties as our Chairman,
HONGKONG, 9th April, 1902.
A. W. BREWIN. HO KAI EDWARD A. IRVING.
P.S.-As a personal matter, I beg leave to point out that is Lordship. in implying that I am without "personal experience in the work of teaching," has drawn his bow entirely at a veuture, and has also missed his mark. I have had a year's experience as house-master in a boarding school, as well as experience as a private tutor.
EDWARD A. IRVING,
Inspector of Schools.
No. 5.
[No. 372.]
Governor to Secretary of State for the Colonies,
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 30th July, 1903.
SIR,-With reference to paragraphs 9 and 10 of my Despatch No. 161 of the 30th March last, I have the honour to transmit for your consideration the enclosed copy of a report by a Sub-Committee of the Governing Body of Queen's College on the subject of a scheme for the restoration of Chinese Classes at the College, and the employment of a Normal Master at the College for training purposes. The Sub-Committee also recommend certain increases in the salaries of the Chinese Masters and Pupil Teachers at the College whose salaries the Committee on Edu- cation (see paragraph 74 of their report) considered too low.
2. The Governing Body has adopted the Report as also a Resolution concern- ing the annual examination of the College, copy of which I enclose.
3. I concur in the suggestions contained in the Report and Resolution. They have been communicated to the Head Master of the College, and I enclose extracts from a minute of his in which he offers objection to the only material points on which he has not been able to agree with the Governing Body. They are that promotion in the proposed 5 Chinese Classes should coincide with promotion in the English Classes and that there should be an entrance examination in Chinese.
4. If you approve of the recommendations of the Governing Body I have to request your authority to provide in the Estimates for next year the increased expenditure set out in the attached schedule. It amounts to $6,899 for next year and a maximum of $11,040.
The employment of a Third Examiner for the College involves an additional expenditure of $300 per annum, there having been heretofore 2 Examiners who were paid a fee of $300 each.
I propose that the allowance of $600 to the Master who acts as Normal Master should not carry exchange compensation nor be drawn in whole or in part by an officer on leave nor be pensionable.