478
an amazing difference between such schools, for instance, as Grant School No. 15 and the new Lower Grade District School at Tanglungchau. Unless the Lower Grade Anglo- Chinese Schools can serve as models to the numerous private Anglo-Chinese Schools of the Colony, it is hard to see the object of their support by the Government.
Vernacular Schools.
39. Owing to the absence from the Colony of the English Mistress of the Training Home for Girls, the best of the Upper Grade Vernacular Schools has necessarily been classed this year in the Lower Grade. With a high dollar, the loss from the money point of view is not important: indeed, the distinction between the two classes of schools is not so clear in any respect as might be wished. The fact that the three schools in the Upper Grade possess "a Staff competent to give instruction in all the subjects of the Seventh Stan. dard," as required by the Code, has not succeeded in raising their average performance to a very high level. The average attendance was 114, as compared with 148 last year.
40. The Lower Grade Schools shew an increase from 1,692 to 1,829. This increase has already been considered above (section 7) in dealing with the total figures of Vernacular education. Two schools have been closed, and two new ones opened-one at Kowloon City and one at Yaumati.
41. Seeing how much more dependent is the female population than the male upon the Vernacular Schools, it is a matter for sincere regret that the standard of education among the teachers in the schools for girls should be as it is, so very low.
42. Provision was made in the Estimates for 1906 for the appointment of two Sub- Inspectors-one of Needlework and one of the Vernacular Schools. The Officers to whom these appointments have since been given were temporarily appointed in 1905, and I am thus in a position to report on the success of this further measure of supervision. The schools are now visited more frequently than has bitherto been possible; terminal reports are sent to the Managers; and it is now in my power to check the beginnings of irregularities to a degree that was not formerly practicable. In Appendix F is given a short Report by the Sub-Inspector of Needlework.
43. The Grant Gode section 26 is rather vague as to the courses of study of the Vernacular Schools. It was felt at the time the Code was compiled that the change in the methods of instruction was so great, that it would be unwise to attempt to lay down the law too exactly. Meanwhile a number of experiments have been tried, and it is now possible to make more specific recommendations. The course of study and the time-table given in Appendix C are the results of experience; and are now adopted in some of the best Vernacular Schools. It may be advisable at a later date to amend the Code, by making this course, with such modifications as further consideration may suggest, com- pulsory in Vernacular Schools. Meanwhile it is some satisfaction to remember, that so full à course could not have been seriously considered two years ago.
44. There is a natural tendency on the part of such teachers in the Grant Schools as have a direct monetary interest in the amount of the Grant, to permit pupils to attend in excess of the numbers sanctioned by the Code for a given floor-space. As a preventive, it has been laid down that, when checking the rolls each month, all such excessive attendances should be ignored.
GENERAL.
Hygiene.
45. At the beginning of the year, the subject was made compulsory in all Government and Grant Schools. Much interest was taken in it.. I have so lately reported in detail on the year's work, that little is left to add now. Towards the end of the year, proposals were approved by the Government to publish a list of experiments illustrating the authorised text-book, to translate the text-book, or such parts of it as were suitable, into Chinese, and to make the subject compulsory in the higher Standards of the Vernacular Schools.