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on being appointed translator to the Canton and Hankow Railway. All three gentlemen had been conspicuously excellent teachers, and I was sorry to lose their services. Promotiona and appointments were made to fill the vacancies thus caused.
4. Non-Chinese classes, as reported at the time to the Government, were abolished by me last February, owing to the diminution in num. bers not justifying me in the assignment of two English masters specially for their behoof. The boys were thereupon scattered amongst Classes I-IV, being allotted to those sections that are under the control of English masters. The year's experience has shown that by far the majority hase suffered by their return to mixed classes, as is testified by their position obtained by competition in the various Class lists. As n substitute for the two translation subjects, non- Chinese boys in Classes I-IV offered Natural Science and Physiology, and in the remaining classes an incremental pro rata allowance was made for these two subjects on the actual total marks obtained by each non-Chinesa boy.
5. Monday, the 25th May, was observed by order of HE. the Governor as a holiday in loving memory of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria. On Saturday, the 23rd, occasion was taken to explain to every class the reason of the holiday, and by aid of maps practical demonstration was given of the expansion of the British Empire in the Victorian epoch. It did not appear convenient or desirable to assemble the boys, who live at all distances (up to two, three, and even six miles) from school, to listen to a lecture upon the holiday itself; especially in view of the damp hot weather usually prevalent in the month of May. I propose, therefore, to make a practice of annually addressing the boys on the subject of the British Empire, on the school day im- mediately preceding Victoria Day, which has now been gazetted an annual public holiday.
6.) Chinese school, abolished in 1896, has at length been restored, five vernacular masters having been appointed by His Excellency from the 1st of January. During the past month, they have been employed in making Chinese translations, in examining toys already in the College with a view to their classification for vernacular school, and in drawing up time tables and regulations. Vernacular school will begin early in March. By a scheme formulated by me, in February last, not only will there be the direct benefit from the study of the Chinese language, but also there will be to English schoo the indirect advantage accruing from the transfer of masters of higher to lower English classes, while their own sections are pursuing Chinese studies.
7. In 1887, in the draft suggestions of the requirements for Queen's College, I includ- ed the appointment of a normal master. A few years later, I applied for an allowance for this officer, which was, however, refused. With the assistance of the governing body, my labours in this direction have been crowned with success and Mr. Tanner has been appointed normal master by His Excellency from 1st March until further notice. I have in my annual reports repeatedly borne testimony to the ex- cellent work done by Chinese assistants, who have acquired considerable skill in teaching, by laborious practice, aided by hints and advice given by myself. There can, however, be no question that the value of their services will be enormously enhanced by a course of carefully regulated instruction in the art and science of teaching.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
| little more application several mora boys might have passed." Hearty congratulations are again due to Messrs. Ralphs, Grant, aud Tanner for their painstaking and successful instruction.
9. Various structural improvements have been affected by the Public Works Department in the College in the course of the year. An entirely new roof has been erecte i over the hall, without a ceiling, as a check on the ravages of white ants; the roofs elsewhere have been general ly overhauled; improvements made in the ap- prosches to the latrine and its ventilation; and at the suggestion of the acting second master, Mr. Ralphs, two extra rooms have been enclosed from the verandahs for the use of the normal master and papil teachers,
10. By resolution of the governing body, the annual examination of Queen's College in the months of December and January has been entrusted to the sole control of the Head Master; inspection and examination by the independent examiners being assigned to the
summer.
11. The total number recently examined is 997, record fures for this College. The oral examination lasted throughout the month of December, reading in all classes 997 boys, conversation 760, and in Class VII grammar 166 boys. The written examination occupied twenty days in January, 7,165 papers being marked. Of these, 6,227 were corrected and marked by myself, the remaining 938 being marked by Senior Chinese Assistants, Class masters were present at the oral examina- tion, and were called to the office to notice anything of interest in the written work. The system of marking adopted was 34 per cent. marks were necessary, for a pass in subject and class, the questions being sufficiently severe, and the standard exacted high. 34-49 marks Fair, 50-70-Good, 71.85 Very Good, and 86.100-Excellent. Following this line, I estimate the result of the examination as highly satisfactory.
Upper School Lower Preparatory
11.
Boys exam.
266 493 238
Total for College 997
Passed
235 or 88 per cent. 480) 87 per cent. 221 93 per cent.
19
14
886 89 per cent, 12. Observations on Groups of Subjects. English subjects-Reading showed considerable improvement iu phrasing, though mispronuncia- tion of common words requires stricter attention. With the exception of Juuior section of Class I. which was generally weak, Dictation was very good, Shakespeare, History, Geography, and Composition were exceedingly well done; there being specially noticeable a high degree of intelligence displayed in dealing with these subjects. The results in Conversation were most pleasing; the boys in the Senior section of Class I. acquitting themselv s so creditably that I regretted there was no one to hear them except myself and Mr. Ralphs. Professor Barnett, formerly Principal of the Borough Road Training College, thus delivers himself on the subject of Grammar in his preface to a new Edition of Morell:- The study of grammar would not have maintained so close a hold on the schools if the teachers had not felt its paramount importance as an intellectual exercise, and again general grammatical aptitude is of all things necessary as the indispensable minimum of logic without which we are liable to incorrect thought as well as incorrect speech, for no man has yet succeeded in separating the idea and name." Fully endorsing Professor Barnett's remarks, I regret once more to be obliged to complain of the low standard attained in the important subject of grammar, In this, as in many other subjects, there is need of more attention to individual scholars, and I would venture to suggest to my masters the ad- visability of pursuing the course followed by myself during the eight years in which I discharged the duties of a practical teacher in the Central School. I found excellent results obtained through dividing a olass roughly into quarters, and devoting my main attention to each of these quarters in different subjects on different days, with occasional demonstra tions on the blackboard to the whole class. More inspection of slates and less work on the blackboard appears to me the cure for weakness in grammar and mathematical subjects.
8. At the Oxford Local Examinations, the good results of the previous year were surpassed by the successes of 1903. 29 certificates were obtained by Queen's College boys, 5 Senior, 9 Junior, and 15 Preliminary. The mark G, next to Distinction, was obtained 40 times in 1903 as against 16 times in 1902. Of the 29 certificates, 16 were awarded to Chinese boys. Three Chinese boys were placed by the Oxford Examiners at the head of the Senior list in this College, and six at the head of the Junior. In the Preliminary list, the two brothers Galluzzi, by offering Italian in addition to the usual subjects, rank first, being immediately followed by three Chinese boys. The percentage of passes in Queen's College is 83 in Senior, 43 in Junior, and 79 in Preliminary. The inferiority shown by the Junior candidates should prove a Translation, from and into Chinese were salutary lesson for the future, as with very well done, the former being better than
י.
[February 8, 1904.
the latter. As usual, 80 unseen piece of Chinese formed tbe fifth question in every paper. In the upper school I made selections from recent issues of the local native Press, and I was much pleased with the render, ing into English, especially in the senior section of the first class. As a novelty this year, I also inserted an unseen piece of English in every class to be turned into Chinese, but this was not equally well done. The papers written in Chinese were first assessed by the vernacular masters on the matter of style and correctness in writing characters. They were then marked for translation by Messrs Ng and Tsang, the two senior Chinese assistants. In view of the interest evinced by the boys throughout the College in this important branch of education, I much regret that by 8753/03 C. S. O. instruction in both translations has been pro- hibited in the Lower and Preparatory Schools, representing about 709 boys.
Mathematical subjects.-Arithmetic is again weak throughout the College. Algebra was a successful subject in the Upper School. On the representation of Mr. Grant that the test in Class I. was too severe, I allowed a pro ratu in- crement of 25 per cent, to the Senior Section and 50 per cent to the Junior; but in justice to myself, I must report that, as is the case with all other examination papers, no one question set failed to elicit a correct answer from some one or more boys. Euclid was intelligently done in Classes 1-II, and by a few boys in Class III, where it is a new and difficult subject. A better grasp of principles might be exhibited in Mensuration, though several boys deserve high praise. A' fair proportion of boys in Classes I and II did well in Bookkeeping. As it is unusual for a non- Chinese boy to excel in these subjects, it is only just to Carl Bunje to place on record that he obtained no less than 86 per cent. marks in both Euclid and Bookkeeping.
Miscellaneous Subjects.-The General Intel- ligence paper was hetter worked than in my previous experience; the answers were full of interest and showed acquaintance with a wide field of information. Natural Science and Physiology were well done by the Senior class of non-Chinese boys, who offer these subjects instead of translations. Freehand and Model Drawing and Shorthand have been taught with great success by Mr. Tanner as optional subjects.
13. The scholarships were awarded as under: Senior Morrison, I A, Tse Tsok-kai; Junior Morrison IV A, Yang Yam-mun; Stewart, A, Ho Yan-sik; Senior Bolilios, I A. Kó Pó sham; Junior Belilios, III A, M. Yamasaki. The Chinese community has by subscription founded a Blake scholarship, of the annual value of $150, in honour of His Excellency the recent Governor; the first award will be made in 1905 for proficiency in translations and English composition. To the list of donors of prizes published in my last annual report should be added the names of Messrs. Wan Tsung-iu and Leung Lau-fan, both former scholars and masters of this College, who have already attained high position in the Chinese mperial Service. The sous of Mr. Arculli, old scholars, have joined their father in presenting a handsome douation.
14. In December, Mr. Hannibal Williams was kind enough to accept my invitation to give in the hall a recitation of Shakespeare's Henry IV., Part I. There was a good atter- dance, and the opportunity was welcomed, espo- cially by those boys who annually make a study of some Shakespearean pl y. The School Magazine and various club continue to flourish.
15. A new and more liberal scale of salaries for Chinese assistants and pupil teachers came into effect from the 1st instant.
16. Now that the Government is contemplat- ing expenditure of money on lectures on the British Empire and on instruction in hygiene and tropical diseases, it is to be hoped that there will be no further difficulty in obtaining $400 for gymnastic appliances to improve the physi- el condition of our scholars, and bring their school life more into scoord with that prevail- ing elsewhere in the empire.
Dr. BATESON WRIGHT after having read the report said-Sir, it is just twelve months since you honoured us by distributing the prizes in this hall On that occasion I congratulated you on your preferment--your
recent preferment to the post of Colonial Secretary, and now, sir, I have the honour to welcome your Excellency here to-day and to