482
I regret that in view of the restitution of Vernacular School the Governing Body considers an Entrance Examination still necessary, as I fear it will have a very prejudicial effect.
*
17th June, 1903.
G. H. BATESON Wright.
No. 6.
[No. 435.]
The Governor to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 30th September, 1902.
SIR,-With reference to Sir W. GASCOIGNE'S despatch No. 177* of the 6th of last May, I have the honour to transmit for your consideration the enclosed copy of a letter from the Ven'ble Archdeacon BANISTER and other Managers of Grant-in-Aid Schools in the Colony calling attention to certain recommendations in the Report of the Education Committee and submitting that these recommenda- tions will, if adopted by the Government, be prejudicial to the schools in which the signatories are interested.
I defer any comments on the letter pending the return of the Inspector of Schools.
I have, &c.,
(Enclosures.)
HENRY A. BLAKE.
HONGKONG, September, 1902.
SIR-The undersigned Managers of Schools working under the Government Grant-in-Aid Code have the honour to request you to lay before His Excellency the Governor their views on "The Report of the Committee on Education," after careful consideration thereof.
I. VERNACULAR SCHOOLS.
While concurring in the general recommendations and principles of the Report as to these Schools the Managers consider :--
(a.) That owing to great differences in the social and pecuniary position of the inhabitants of different parts of the Colony the amount of fee should not be fixed but left to the Manager's discretion. (Section 54.)
(b.) That if the Government wish to obtain a better class of Teachers, there must be a higher rate of remuneration than is possible now, and that the Grant in these Schools should not be less than Eight Dollars ($8). (Section 54.)
(c.) That owing to the frequent interruptions to which school work is liable from the prevalence of epidemics, the observance of Chinese holidays and feasts, and from other causes, the Rule for the 100 attendances should remain as at present, viz., from 1st January to 31st December. (Section 57, Sub-section 14.)
(d.) That as hitherto, every scholar who can complete 100 attendances before 31st December should be examined, for though a few earn grants after only four or five months' study, many after attending half or three-quarters of the year, leave just before the examination, whereby schools lose considerably every year. (Section 57, Sub- section 14.)
(e.) That although the present "system of payment by the results of individual examination of each scholar" has its defects, it has won the confidence of Chinese teachers, and that the proposed new method is not at all suited to the condition of education in Hong- kong, and will not improve the general efficiency of schools, and that Chinese teachers will not work well, if they work at all under such a system. (Section 57, Sub-sections 10, IÏ.)
* No. 1.