533
+
Drawing. This is a new subject, and it is being regularly taught. It is in natural sequence to the crayon work in the lowest classes of the Infant School, where that, as well as similar Kindergarten subjects, is taught with a view to train, the eye as well as the hand, and the hand to other movements than the somewhat cramping one of penmanship. It is for this reason that I recommend that the "free-arm" system of drawing (ie., from the shoulder without any support for the elbow) should be given a trial. I have scen it followed with great success in schools at Home.
Geography. The subject is well taught throughout the School. Map-draw- ing is a weak feature in the upper Forms.
History. The course followed is in its general features that prescribed by the Committee on History and Geography. As however the great majority of the scholars are withdrawn from the School before the age of 16, it is necessary to begin this four years' course at least two years earlier than was contemplated- by the Committee; and thus, as the text books prescribed for the first two years' work would be altogether beyond the comprehension of the scholars, the facts have to be put before them in a more easily assimilated form. The Headmaster has attempted to do so by making the biographies of famous men the centres round which the desired information is grouped. And this method which has been now tried for two years has proved very successful.
Arithmetic. The Arithmetic is well up to the standard of schools at Home. In the upper Forms the work is neat and accurate, but slow. Time is wasted in fair copying the questions, and the processes might be shortened in many instances, e.g., where a number of 3d. pieces were first reduced to pence and then divided by 12 to find their value in shillings.
Musical Drill.-Well done. I observe that some of the performers in the back rows do not put as much energy into it as they might.
(2).-Belilios Public School.
Staff.-E. A. BATEMAN (Headmistress) and 3. Assistant Mistresses.
Discipline and Organization.—Important changes in organization have taken place during the year. In last year's report I drew attention to the difficulties consequent on the various ages, races, and wants of the scholars. To remedy the somewhat chaotic classification which had arisen in consequence, I recom- mended, early in the current year, a re-organization of the School in the following manner. In the first place, the Indian and other non-Chinese but non-English speaking boys were segregated in a class by themselves, as described under the heading "Indian School" below. Of the remaining children, those not qualified to be placed in the 3 senior classes were divided into two groups-English-speaking and non-English-speaking. The former, and very much the smaller group, was put under Miss W. BATEMAN; the latter, which now composes considerably more than half the School, continued as before under the charge of Miss A. BATEMAN, aided by the second junior assistant teacher. This group of non-English speaking girls may for convenience be called the Lower School, and is described below under that name. The general discipline of the School is very good, especially in the upper classes under Mrs. BATEMAN. There has been a marked improvement in the standard of manners prevailing among the Chinese girls during the year.
Sanitation.-Very satisfactory.
Floor space.-Sufficient for 728 scholars.
Apparatus.—Maps, pictures and the ordinary appliances of modern teaching have been badly needed. But the school is now much better equipped than it was
a year ago.
LOWER SCHOOL.
English. As I pointed out in my last year's report, the system employed by Miss BATEMAN is very effective in teaching the scholars to compose readily in English. As an instance, a girl of 10 who had been under instruction only 9 months wrote 70 or 80 words in description of a dog, full of mistakes of course, but in a good hand, employing a vocabulary and phrases which proved that she