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February 8, 1904.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE ANGLO-CHINESE DISTRICT Government Anglo-Chinese schools. To-day we
SCHOOLS,
His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, Mr. F. H. May, C.M.G., on the ist inst, presented the prizes to the successful stud- ents in the Anglo-Chinese Distrios Government Schools-Saivingpun, Wanchai, and Yaumati—– the ceremony taking place in the Wanchai Schoo. Mr. F. A Irving, Inspector of Schools, presided, and sigong those present were Mr. P. A. B. 'uns. Priva e Secretary to His Excellency; Mr. W. H. Williams, Sayingpun; Mr. Wm. Curwen, Yanmati; Mr Yung Hee, Wanchai; Mr A. U. Brawn and Mr. C. R. S. Cooper. Before the formal proceedings began recitations were given by boys from each school, Mr. IRVING said he had been requested by the headmasters of the three District Schools which were represented there to read the annuat
report upon the progress of the schools during the past year It was a duty which was usually undertaken by the headmasters themselves, and he was all the more conscious of the compliment and gladly consented to do what he had been asked. He only regretted that they were unable to hear from the m uths of the gentlemen best qualified to speak an account of the interesting experiment whose first phase. as it were, was punctuated by that day's gathering.
meaning And if
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Mr. W. H. WILLIAMS on behalf of the staffs have the first-fruits of that reorganisation, and the boys of the district schools thanked the and I think all those who are interested in ladies who had graced the ceremony with their education in the Colony must have heard to-day presence and the Inspector of Schools, Mr. or will, no doubt, read in the newspapers to- | Irving, for his report upon the district schools satisfactory report which the Inspector of the boys could do. but had omitted to point morrow, with a great deal of pleasure, the collectively. Mr. Irving had told them what Schools bas jus now read to us. And I would out a little feature of school curricula which like, before I go further, to congratulate the the boys in these schools could not do. masters of
district schools, and the Part of an English boy's early education was Chines masters working under them, upon the very good work which they have already
to learn to sing. He mentioned that fact berause the district schools were conducted as accomplished. What we want in Hougkong far as possible on the lines of an English language, and also, let ara Chinese who know the English school, and it Was quite possible that a phusisa it, who know their own.
me once more 12} - tew of their visitors had occasion before now to state that in my ex- singing was not taught in their schools. In expected do I have had
hear school songs. As yet, however, sobopl perience, which has been a considerable one, of fact the headmasters had considered it and had the difficulties in carrying on business in Govern. 4-cided for the present at any rate against ment offices and it must also be found to be it. He had also to thank His Excellency most a difficulty in commercial firms-is the waut of heartily for distributing the prizes aud for clerks who know their own language as well his address to the boys. Perhaps the boys had as knowing some Euglish. Now, English, as not been able to follow all the points of the district schools ou we have heard in the report, is being taught in His Excellency's address, but he felt sure they
a different system to were sufficiently intelligent ta what has been done in the past. I may say that by his coming personally and addressing them realise that
I thoroughly endors- tai system. It is the system that is now used at home in teaching of education
those who provided them with this means all modern languages, and I do not think
were anxious to go farther and to encourage them in the way His Ex- there is any question that it is the best
qellency had done. The prizes were given by WLY of learning livin language. I
the Hongkong Government, and in receiving have before to-day had occasion to visit.
them from the hands of His Excellency they the district schools and see then actually at
felt that they had a double value and appreciat- struck by the progress made by the stu lents in work, and I must say that I have been much did them all the more. (Applause.) colloquial English. The masters appear to ma and what is very pleasing is to to teach them in a most intelligent manner,
students appreciate the efforts being
judge they seem made by their masters, and as far as I could to enter into the spirit
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Mr.IRVING proceeded to read thereport, which stated that thethren schools were in existence in 1991 as free schools, and gave elementary in- struction in English and Chinese to the chil tren in the neighbourhood. The same Chinese mas- ters were now doing excellent work,althongh the methods employed, which were general in Europe and America, were revolutionary in the annals of Hongkong. Under the same roof as the English classes were veruacular classes in which a sort of education
was given. but very few of the boys knew the of what they learned by heart. the boys did not learn their own language they did not learn English. They learned three or four school readers almost by hear. That was in the past, but a different system was now in vogue. The organisation of the schools was entirely remodelled under English masters, and the results of the last examination showed a vast improvement. In elementary geography the same improvement was shown, and the arithmetic done by the first year boys was exceedingly good. Composition, however, was weak, but colloquial English showed great advancement, and the senior boys talked Eng lishas Wellington did French," according to a saying of Napoleon, "courageously." standard of Chinese language attained in the schools Was very moderate, that Saiying pan being the best of the three. Mr. of Irving dealt with the question of teaching simple English thoroughly, as if English was to be the tool for further learning, then the tool must be well forged, and ready to hand before good work could be expected. It was also proposed to admit no boy to the school without some knowledge of the character of his own language, and then to dispose and improve that knowledge so that the student may be able to ase it for practical purposes. In the upper schools frequent translations from English to Chinese and from Chinese to English would be insisted upon. In concluding his report Mr. Irving cali.d
His Excellency to present upon
The
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see that
of the new method of teaching and to render on their part the task of the master more easy. I have heard it said that it is w us trying to get Chines › lings to talk, beause they won't district, schod. I have found hat they were talk. Well, I must say thở in my visits to the quite ready to talk. (Applause) I have had an opportunity of se ing some of t
amination papers that were done at the recent examination by the Inspector of Schools and I have taken English into Chinese, because that was a special interest in the translation work from
test of the progress made in the
other department of education to which I referred. | the teaching of the Chinese language. I regret to say that the progress in that direction is not so satisfactory, but I hope that a recent change which I have sanctioned, by which three vernacu. lar schools have been closed an the masters district schools to teach the Chinese language have been taken from them and transferred to the
there, may have a beneficial effect. If it has not
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and we shall be able to learn before the next dis tribution of prizes whether the change has been fruitful of success then all I can say is that some other measures must be taken, for of oue thing I myself am determined, and that is that as far as I can do it I will have Chinese boys in the
district shools getting a good sound education in their own language (Applause), and I would ask you boys to remember that. i am more or official who has a good deal to say with re card less au employer of labour-at least I am an
of Chinese clerks in the Government service- to the selection and appointment and promotion the prizes.
HIS XC LLENCY then presented the prizes, world in this Colony, and I can tell you that it is and I have also many friends in the commercial after which he said-Mr. Irving, ladies, and gentlemen, Mr. Irving has told you that to-lay
not enough for you to know English ouly. If marks the first stage in an experiment. It is
you want to be successful and if you want to an experiment, and a very important one,
make a goi income, i do not care whether it is think, not only in the educational interests in
under the Government or under some large mercantile firm, you must the Colony, but also in the commercial i .terests
know Chinese of this great emporium of trade. When I came
as well.
I think that all those who have heard the recitations to-day will have been very out as Colonial Secretary, in 1902, one of the pleased with them, and I think I may express first pieces of work that fell to my lot was the prophecy that there is oue boy at least
how far and in what 8.0 recommendatious of a very important Com-
manner the H.E. was referring to a little fellow who mission-the Commission Education-might who when he comes to be a man
had r cited excellently When I'm a Man ] will be be adopted; that is to say, I had to advise the
he Governor for the time being, as far a- my abil ty
8 very useful member of society if enabled
goes on as he has begun. (Applause.) Now. me, as to and could
what changes could I am told he is only nine years old; I suppose nol be made. After
a that is only nice Chinese, which makes it about very great deal of correspondence with the sight in English reckoning. When he is eighty home authorities and others, various changes he may be Viceroy of a Chinese province per- were decided upon. and
on of the ost haps or occupy a considerable official position important of them was the reorganisation of the in this Colony, (Applause).
to
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The scholars then gave thres cheers for His Excellency, and the proceedings were concluded by the recitation by one of the boys of "God Save the King and three cheers for His Majesty.
QUEEN'S COLLEGE.
The aunnal distribution of prizas took placeon the 2nd inst. at Queau's College, the ceremony being performel by His Excellency the Officer Administering the (overnment, Mr. F. H. May, C.M.G. There was
a large attendance of scholars and visitors. Among those present were Mrs May: Mr R. A. B. Ponsonby, Private Secretary to His Excellency; Dr. G. Bateson Wricht, headmaster; Hon Dr. Ho Kai, C.M.G. Mr and Mrs Hoang, Rev. T. W. and Mrs Pearse, Rev. G. A. Bunbury and Mrs. Bunbury, Rev. C. H. Hickling, Rev. J. H. | France, Mr. and Mrs. B. A. Hale; Brother Joshua, director of S. Stephen's; Brother Isidore, headmaster of the Anglo-Chinese School; Mr. W. H. Williams, headmaster of Saiyingpun District School; Mr. C. Mooney Mrs, Bunje, Mr. Ng Chit Mi, Mr. Wong Kam and Mrs. Mooney, Mr. E. T. H. Banje and
Fook and the following members of the staff:- Messrs. A. W. Grant, B. Tanner, W, R. eymour. R. E. O. Bird, A. H. Crook, and
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R. J. Birbeck,
Dr. G. H. BATESON WRIGHT, Headmaster, read the annual report. He said :-I have the honour to present the annual report on Queen's College for the year 1903.
2. The total number ou the roll was 1,453 and the average daily attendance 940, figures differ- Though the attendance in seven months of the ing but slightly from those of the previous year.
year exceeded that of the corresponding months in 1902, there is a slight diminution ($20), in
shown an increase of $810, had it not been for revenue derived from fees, which item would have
the closin of the hall for the first six months of the year owing to necessary repairs of the roof. Th five extra school days r accounted for by the special holidays in 1902 connected with His Majesty's Coronation.
3. Mr. A. J. My went on leave on the 4th April, and Mr. E. Ralphs has been an efficient acting second master during his absence. Mr. Dealy was absent on leave throughout the year. Mr. Hollis arrived in February, bat resigned on 31st May on leaving the Colony. Mr. R. J. Birbeck, R.A., Trinity College, Cambridge, was appointed in his place, arriving 20th September, and proving an energetic and suc- cessful teacher of Fnglish. Messrs. Lo Pan-fai and Fung Ho'cheang, 8th and 9th Chinese assistants, having obtained appointments as English teachers
at Tients n University, resigned on 10th April; as also on 31st October did Mr. Lai Chan-pong, 5th Chinese assistant,