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The result is that teachers
(a) have little to give the pupils and consequently cannot hold their interest. This accounts, to a very great extent; for the want of dis- cipline in Primary Schools and in the vernacular classes of Secondary Schools;
(b) must content themselves with getting their pupils to memorize, day after day, portions of the only Chinese books the teachers know. The result is a very one-sided education;
(e) have not been trained to draw out the children, to make them do even rudimentary thinking for themselves. Memory is developed, and wonderfully developed, but at the expense of intellect.
This is the state of things which generally, if not universally, meets the teachers in other subjects in the lower classes of the Secondary Schools.
What steps should be taken to improve this state of things?
To train Teachers adequately a complete change over from the present system is called for:
(1) The ideal would be a Training College, with a two-year course, strict supervision, weeding out of those who show that they are not interested in teaching for itself.
(2) The Training College or its present equivalent, the Evening Institute, should have a permanent staff, or (and this is considered the absolute minimum) a permanent Head free from all other work. Great care should be taken in the selection of the Head, to ensure that the one who holds such an important post is enthusiastic in his work, efficient, and of a personality which will arouse enthusiasm in the students.
(3) The Course should include
(a) more Science (particularly, in view of the New Territories' Schools, Science of a practical nature, likely to be useful in an agricultural community).
(b) Theoretical and Practical Hygiene. Many of the Primary Schools are innocent of any attempt at sanitary conditions. To introduce compulsory Physical Instruction without providing adequate means to ensure that the Physical Instruction be really effective (i.e., adequate sanitary arrangements, baths, etc., in the schools) is merely putting the cart before the horse.
(c) Modern, Social History of China--not merely Chinese History as
taught in Chinese text-books.
(d) A course which would ensure a speaking knowledge of Mandarin
(Kwo Yu).
(e) A course of reading and writing with ease and speed in the modern
style.
(f) Sufficient English to allow of their giving lessons in simple English during the last year. This would make the task of the Secondary Schools much easier.
(g) A course in Practical Phonetics.
(h) Some attempt should be made at teaching these men and women how to teach. Hence practical lessons should be given under the eye of a skilled teacher. Some of the principles of modern pedagogy should be imparted to them.
(i) Definite methods of teaching and correcting compositions should
be insisted on.