72
ELLIS KADOORIE CHINESE SCHOOL SOCIETY.
PRESENTATION OF PRIZES BY THE
GOVERNOR,
The Hongkong College of the Ellis Kadoorie Chinese School Society presented an nousually animated appearance on Jan. 3). The exterior of the new buildings was viewed by many interested in the work of thi Society for the first time and the favourable impression
which it created did not vanish with a closer
acquaintance with the building. Flags and peonliarly Chinese decorations gave a picture que touch to the attractive interior, while the large number of bright looking Chinese boys and the presence of many European la lies and gentlemen proclaimed an interesting event
His Excellency the Governor had promised 10 attend and present the prizes to the successful pupils and naturally the scholars were agog with excitement, His
Excellency, accompanied by Mr. Ponsonby, was received with manifest pleasure by the assembled | company. Occupying seats on the platform were Mr. E. A. Irving (Inspector of schools), Messrs. W. Braidwood theadmaster), E. S. Kadoorie, Lau Chi Pak, Ho Kom Tong. Fang Wa Chun, while among the others present were Archdeacon Bannister, Rev. C. J. Hickling, Dr. Sebrea, Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Pearce, Bro. Sylvester, Mr. Ellis Kadoorie, Dr. Wilder (U.S. Consul General), Messrs, G. Piercy, E. J. Moses. E. Howard, A. J. Raymond, Mrs. Kadoorie, Mrs. Braidwood. Mrs, and Miss Rodger, Mrs. J. Rod ger, Mrs. Bryson, Mrs. Milroy, Messrs Ip Oi Sang, Chua You Pin, Choi Tz Yik, Leung Kin Oo, Pan Yan Chuen, Ho Yam Nam, Chau Foon Ng. and Ho Hoi Wan.
Mr. Braidwood, before the commencement of the formal proceedings, on behalf of the Society and also on behalf of the teaching staff and stu-lents, took the opportunity to tender their hearty joongratulations to His Excellency on his re- storation to health and strength. (Applause).
The report for the past year was then read by Mr. Braidwood, It included the following paragraphs:
The average daily attendauce was 319-03 compared with 26769 in the previous year- an increase of nearly 80%, while the grant rose from £407 to £478.
The weakness of the European staff men- tioned in the Echool Inspector's report has since been remedied. Our teaching strength was augmented by the engagement of twa additional masters, Messrs Nicolson and Barlow. Mr. Nicolson, who came directly from home, is a M.A. of Glasgow University & trained and Certificated teacher. Mr. Barlow, who was engaged locally, had already some experience of teaching in the Colouy.
The new buildings although not entirely completed are occupied in September. With the additional class rooms on the top floor and this commodions hall we have now sitting accommoda. tion for 600 pupils. The basement which forms a covered play ground sheltered alike from sun and rain has proved a much advantageous source of comfort and pleasure.
With an increased stock of apparatus and a plentiful supply of chemicals we have been able during the past year to work all the ex- periments in Hygiene contained in the Manual recently published for use in the schools of the colony. The older pupils were allowed to assist in working these experiments and this tended to rivet their attention and stimulate their interest.
The examination for the shield and prizes offered by His Excellency the Governor was
held on 3rd December. A College team entered for the shield and the prescribed number of senior competitors for the prizes, but the results have not yet been declared.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The principle according to which students who make the maximum attendance in the course of the year are rewarded by receiving tinn's to give satisfactory result. Classes were free education for a period of 12 months con. taught on 243 days during the year, and 83 61 were present on 230 or more days. students were present on every occasion while
The Library which had now been in existence for 2 years is still a centre of attraction for the older lads for whom G. 4. Henty's historical Few new books have been added during the narratives seem to possess the greatest interest.
past year and some of a character suited to the younger pupils would be welcomed.
•
As military drill has been discontinued by request and some form of physical exercise is a sine qua non for youths, arrangements are being mid for the introduction of exercises in dumb-bells and Indian clubs. If a suitable instructor be found classes will be formed at the beginning of the new term. With the advent of Mr. Barlow fresh life was infused into the College Football Club and a team enteral for the schools' shield.
at.
io
any
0x0988
[ February 4, 1907.
establishment in the number of applications
scholastic The
can
Compared with last year's results there is an improvement in seven subjects, viz: —Arithmetic, | Colony. English composition, Grammar, History, for admission to Queen's College is still greatly Euclid, Algebra and Mensuration. The
of the number for whom apparent weakness in Orthography, as shown by accommodation
there. The be found the results of writing to dictation, is due to the attendance at the Government Distriot Schools increased difficulty of the Class Readers.
is also increasing and I have not learned that the attendance at any of the other schools has fallen off. I draw the conclusion that there has been a considerable impetus to education in the colony in the last two or three years and this is a conclusion which gives me the greatest possible pleasure. If when I leave the colony in the future, which I hope is remote (applause) the educational standard is higher than what it was when I arrived here it will be a soure of the The numbers at greatest gratification to me. this school are greater thin at any other of the scholastic establishments in the colony with the exception of Queen's College. I wish I could say also that its efficiency was second to none, but that is not quite the case, for the grant was given last year not on the highest basis, not on the basis of thorough efficiency. whereas in two schools--in the Diocesan School and the Italian Convent - the grant was given The reason why the highest on that basis. grant was not given is explained in Mr. Irving's report to be that the eficiency of the lower classes was not what it should hive been, and I think his decision not to give the highest grant If the lowest on this ground was a right one. classes ЯГА not thoroughly efficieat the standard of the highest classes will no doubt, in the course of time come down.
I am glad to say that steps, which I have aɔ doubt will prove to be satisfactory ones, have been taken to remedy the difficulty which reported by the Inspector of Schools in June, and that the most is being done to make the teaching arrangements in the lower classes of the same high standard as the teaching in the higher classes. There are several points in the report just read that have given me much satisfaction. I
am glad that the wave of itself and that I militarism has
ap 'at Am received to-day by the students in their
and
clothes sensibl
picturesque instead of in "military "uniforms. (Applause), There is no one that believes more in patriotism and the fulfilment of patriotic duties than my. self, but at the same time there is that sympathisas so little with militarism or the wish to be soldiers without any idea of I am glad also that sa the object in this. addition has been made to the school our. riculum by adding algebra and Euclid to it. The increasing requirements for engineers and such like professional min requires to be met by an increase in the mathe- matical education in the schools of Hongkong. In the report that was read by Mr. Braidwood it was stated that the results of theexamination in They are hygiene were not yet known. known to me and I am able to say it gires ma much gratification to say that Mr. Liu Ia Chung has been bracketed for first place He is a 000 of in the advanced course. Mr. Lau Chn-pak. (Applause). It will be I gave my remembered that last
I am pleased to have this opportunity of placing on record the able and willing assistance rendered at all times by the various members of the staff and to acknowledge the hearty co-opera- tion of the President, Hon. Secretary and metabers of Conncil. To the Directors of the Tung Wah Hospital, the Committee of the Po Leung Kok and the large number of gentlemen, too numerous to mention individually, who have so generously contributed to our Scholarship and Prize Fund wa tender our sincere thanks for this practical evidence of their interest in our educational work and welfare.
With this commodious addition to our former building, with a staff comprising 4 European masters. 6 Anglo-Chinese assistants and 4 Vernacular teachers and with a President and Council willing to do everything in their power to promote the progress and comfort of the students, we may reasonably hope to realise the wish expressed by your Excellency at our last priz giving that you may sesau attendance of 600 students in this institution.
The Prize List included the following: Blake Scholarship (87), Chan Yan Tong: Ho Kom Toug Scholarship (Senior) (855), Lam Kwok To: Ho Kom Tong Scholarship-Junior ($25), Isa Chit Po.
The special prizes were awarded as nuder: - Dux Boy. Lau Iu Chung; Hygiene. Chan Yan Tong.
It will be remembered that Sir Matthew Nathan was responsible for the attention now being paid to hygiene as a study, and it is mildly amusing to encounter this remark in the School Inspector's report: Hygine should not be dragged unnecessarily into alian
your
WAS
no one
in South China
subjects" Apparently ther is excessive special prize to the bɔy who had done beat la
anxiety to please His Excellency somewheraļ.
The School Inspector recommended a grant
at the rate of 30 ..
His Excellency distributed the priss, the proceedings being invested with more than ordinary interest by the polite and dignified manner of the youthful recipients. Than followed a very piquant entertainment provid-d by the younger boys giving recitations in Eoglish, in which one or two showed remarkable
one of the weakest subjects in the school in the hope that it might serve as a stimulus for that
It
subject to be better studied in the future. was given to the boy who had done the best in The report this year the geography course. shows that there has been a great improvement I in the papers sent in at the examination.
one
од
hope there will be still greater improvement next year. I marked my seus of the import- ance of the subject by giving a prize to the proficiency. The applause of the audience must boy who has done best in it at the last have been very gratifying to the budding | examination. There is
subject linguists.'
which I would like to offer congratula- His Excellency afterwards addressed the
tions. I have not distributed dictionaries assembly. He said:-Mr. Braidwood, I thank
as prizes ax I did last year. They always In accordance with precedent, the head- you very sincerely for your kind congratulations. | remind
me of the class of education of a master's examination was held as nearly as
Ladies and gentlemen. I am much touched by
certain Miss Sharp in a Minerva institution the manner The possible at the close of the Chinese year.
in which
More suitable Pinkerton. you endorsed Mr. kept by a Miss number of pupils present at the examina- Braidwood's esugratulations.
I assure you prizes I am glad to see have been found this tion was 30 Briefly stated the percentage | I am very pleased to be back again among
year. (Applause). of passes are as follows:-Reading 97.45, | you and to be at
my work. In my tura I Mr. Braidwood said-Your Excellency, On Arithmetic 67.00, Composition 81.00, Dictation congratulate the Society upon this fine addition behalf of the Society I have to thank you for 54.00, Writing 100.00, Colloquial 8.58,
to the school buildings. I also congratulate them on the fact that there has been a greatly
your presence here this morning, especially at Geography 83.00, Grammar 81.00, History 94,00
a time when I am sure there are many calls Trans, C. E. 89.00, Trans. E. C. 92.00, Euclid, improved attendance at the school. This is
I thank you also for your on your time. 90.00, Algebra 87.00, Mansuration 81.00, Science particularly satisfactory because it does ❘ advice which you have given both to the 83.00, Hygiene 87.50,
not follow a reduction in the attendance students and teachers, and I am sure that we
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