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BELILIOS PUBLIC SCHOOL-CHINESE DIVISION.
Mr. Ho KAN-PO, who has been Headmaster of the School for twelve years, retired on pension at the end of the year under review. The fact that he, with the assistance of two Chinese mistresses of no great ability, maintained good discipline and gave a fair elementary education to nearly 300 girls, reflects great credit on his methods. Nevertheless, it is only natural that in such circumstances the instruction should have been limited to a study of the Chinese Written Language, and a very little arithmetic and geography. If the school is to attempt to awaken more fully the intelligence of its scholars and widen their mental horizon, the staff will need to be greatly strengthened. Happily it is now easy to find Vernacular masters of broad views, and possessed of considerable ability as teachers. I think the time is approaching when a small fee might reasonably be required from the scholars.
THE INDIAN SCHOOL.
At the beginning of the year, the Indian boys in the Belilios Public School were drafted into a separate school under an English mistress. It has been housed in an empty class-room, an arrangement to which there has hitherto been little objection, as the scholars have not exceeded 10 or 11 years of age. It is now, however, highly desirable that the school should be removed elsewhere. Pro- perly developed it seems likely to prove a success, and should in time be able to prepare Indian boys for the Upper School at Queen's College. The needs of the Indian community were recognized by the Committee on Education, and they have become somewhat more pressing, now that the Chinese Written Language fills a considerable place in the curriculum of the lower classes at the College. It would be a logical and popular step if Urdu were made a subject in the Indian School. That it was possible to open this school last year, was due to the liberality of Mr. ARCULLI who has subscribed $50 a month towards its cost.
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THE DISTRICT SCHOOLS.
Saiyingpun School. The average attendance shews a serious falling off, being only 69 as against 95 in 1903. I have endeavoured to ascertain the reasons. One seems certainly to be the number of changes in the Chinese staff. Chinese boys readily attach themselves to a master, and often do not care to remain at school under other tuition. One Chinese master died of plague during the year, and two resigned. Another possible cause has been that the Headmaster has spent a larger proportion of his time on the three highest Standards, than may have seemed fair to the boys in the lower Standards, who pay a larger fee ($2 a month) then that charged in neighbouring schools where the staff is wholly Chinese: it may seem to them that having paid for European instruction they should get more of it. It is questionable whether the circumstances of the school justify a Standard
VI or VII.
The new play-ground was completed during the year it is greatly appre
ciated.
The Normal Class at Saiyingpan has been continued during the year, and some of the Chinese masters have benefited greatly. Others do not seem to improve. In addition. Mr. WILLIAMS has throughout the year given weekly a course of geography lessons to the masters of the District Schools, and to any others who cared to attend; and his course, which has been most interesting, was greatly appreciated, though only one master from an outside school (Mr. TÄNG of St. Stephen's) competed successfully in the examination for certificates held at the end of the year. Certificates were also given to Messrs. CHAN CHIU-UN and KUNG HON of Saiyingpun School, and to Mr. NG FUNG CHAU of Yaumati School.
Yaumati School. The foundations of the new building were laid during the year, and it is hoped that the School will be ready for occupation towards the close of 1905. The site and design are all that can be desired. With the increasing demand for a good English education, there seems reason to hope that the Yau- mati School will in time become a very important institution. If this is to be so, the need of a strong European staff is apparent.