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542.
Chinese. In conformity with the suggestions of the Officer Administering the Government, Chinese is now taught daily to the Chinese boys in the lower Forms. But unfortunately the new method was not adopted till after the Summer term. Considering this, the progress made is satisfactory. I think it is a inistake to teach two volumes of the Reader at the same time to a Form. Nor do I see why the composition of simple sentences should not be begun in the first year.
(10).-Roman Catholic Mission-Cathedral School.
Discipline and Organization.-The organization is weak. The Headmaster should be personally acquainted with the work that is going on in the lower Stand- ards, and that all the more since one at least of the Chinese masters is by no means well qualified for his position.
T
The discipline of the School has considerably improved. But it is necessary to say that boys should address the Inspector as Sir'.
The requirements of the Code had not at the end of the School year been ful- filled in one important particular, the proper teaching of the Chinese Written Lan- guage. Attention had previously been drawn to this weak point more than once.
Sanitation.-Satisfactory.
Floor space.-Sufficient for 558 scholars.
Apparatus.—Insufficient. Reading-sheets in particular are needed.
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English-Colloquial. By the end of the School year some improvement was noticeable but the subject is very weak throughout the School. Reading.-Pro- nunciation is good; but the old fault of making boys read what has not been properly explained to them is perpetuated in the lower Standards. The "Christian Brothers Reader is old-fashioned and unsuitable. Composition.-Very weak throughout the School.
Arithmetic. Fair. The upper Standards fail to do easy problems, through their ignorance of English. They should be made to practise them more.
Geography.--My recommendation, that local Geography should be taught in the lower Standards, has been ignored. General Geography is well taught in the highest Standards.
(11).-Ellis Kadoorie School.
Discipline and Organizatim.-The School is well organized with good pro- vision for teaching the Chinese language. If however a minimum standard of pro- ficiency in Chinese were fixed for each class, it would obviate the inconvenience caused by some boys in each class having to study Chinese while the rest are doing other subjects. At my first visit this year I found that the time-table was not being strictly adhered to.
Sanitation. Fairly satisfactory. Some of the rooms are dark.
Floor space. Owing to the nature of the building, lack of fresh air is impossible. English-Colloquial.—Sufficient attention is not being paid to colloquial, though a fair beginning has been made. Proper coloured sheets of pictures are almost a necessity, and should be provided: in the highest Class but two I could not get the boys to talk at all., Better results were obtained in the lower Classes.
The top Class talked well and fluently. Writing, Composition and Grammar.-Composition was fair in the top Class. In many instances good work was spoiled by careless- ness. In the lower Classes it was as good as could be expected from boys who do not practise talking English sufficiently.
Arithmetic.-A very strong subject: some time is wasted in examination by copying out the questions. Sufficient pains are not always taken to read through and understand the questions before answering them.