30
able improvement of several boys, who after failing at midsummer rose twenty or even thirty places at the annual examination. It is to be hoped that, in a few years, boys will be more equally distributed among the five classes, and that few boys will fail to pass the simple entrance test examination. ■'
Discipline in the college remains excellent. There is, however, a matter affecting what anny be called external discipline to which I desire to draw the attention of the public. There is a tendency on the part of some Chinese parents and guardians to treat Queen's College, as if it were a hotel. Boys are taken away and sent. on a tour of the other schools and readmission is claimed for then on the plen that they prefer our lare. Again, boys are sent to Canton or Macio and the head master is peremptorily ordered by letter to mark them on leave and readmit them on their return. Of the 65 boys dismissed in 1904, nearly all were removed from the books for this gross disregard of well- known school regulations. It is needless to add that leave is willingly granted in all urgent cases of sickness or death of relatives, and for some of the many family functions peculiar to China, but unknown in Europe,
Last May the register number of a boy on admission to this college was 10,000. Thus in 42 years a myriad names have been enrolled at Queen's College, and of these, three quarters have been entered in the last 23 years: At the last prize distribution held in the Central School (now Queen's College) in January 1888, Sir William Des Voeux spoke to the lollowing effect: The chief point I consider admirable about this school is its missionary purpose and work. The young men that complète their course of studies here are scattered over the vast empire of China and cannot, fail to dis seminate those Western-ideas that they have acquired in this school and that appreciation of British government inpressed upon them by their residence in this British colony. His Excellency rightly grasped the situation, bat I venture to doubt that its fall magnitude could have been realised by him. Say 9,000 boys have left this college and one third are scat tered on the mainland: then we have a small army of 3,000 unpaid missionaries spreading Western ideas..
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THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 1905.
cal uses of arithmetic are too obvious to require ↑ ** The school year commences on Wednesday, After reading his report Mr. Williams said exposition. It is used in the home as well as March:zed, after the usual Chinese New Year And now air, the Government having transferred in the office in every enumeration, measure holidays, An entrance examination was held me to another sphere I should like with your ment, financial calculation or manipulation of during the first week 10 boys were rejected, permission to take the opportunity of making statistica. Arithmetical operations, are neces- the knowledge of Chinese being insufficient to a few remarks which concern the interests of sary for every other branch of mathematics pot profit by the instruction given at the school in the scholars and teachers. In these schools; purely geometrical. Just as figures can be that subject. By March roth, the number of the scholars are classified as in an ordinary used to represent lines and areas so lines and boys on the school register was 108.
Elementary English School. Formerly no areas can represent figures. The problems con- Fees. The school fee is 57 per month for instruction was given in the District Schools abova Standard V. During the past year a nected with lines and areas are those dealt with each pupil. by plane geometry and Euclid, as the subject Out-Buildings. The latrines have been re- Standard VI, and Standard Vil. were formed, is often tormed in our schools from the ancient moved to the top of the yard and are n great but the results have not been satisfactory. I alexandrian who ingeniously, and logically improvement. The play ground has been con- should like to refer to the remarks made by put together a number of those probiens. The siderably.enlarged and the boys apprécialet Dr. Bateson Wright at Queen's College yester
Cake Panday regarding the early removal of boys in the combination of arithmetic, and geometry is the very inuch. science of mensuration an entirely practical The Staff (changes):~Mr. Chan Chig-la, the upper classes just so soon as they could earn a science for obtaining in arithmetical terms first assistant, resigned on the 1st March: Mr. few dollars. We have experienced the same. areas of plane figures and contents, weights Chan Chiusun was appointed first asistant thing in regard to tandards VI and VII, Boys and values of solids. It is by mensuration that Mr. Ng l'iu died of plague in April; Mr. Yeung left as soon as they could get a situation thus the merchant and the customs officer ascertain Kün appainted on probation Mr. Yung Kila preventing continuity of work. As the great the contents of a cask, the surveyor the area of resigned in September; Mr. Lam Chak Shang majority of boys feare school on passing Si. V and some of them before that to take up a field, and the engineer the weight of any part appointed on probation. The headmaster was of his structure. The practical uses of algebra absent the greater part of July, August and positions as junior clarks with our local firms in which figures, lines, areas and contents are September on sick leave.
at salaries ranging from $15 to $30 a month represented by alphabetical symbols, are, ex Time table and curriculum-Instruction in made a point of inquiring personally how these cept for furnishing methods for multiplication prescribed Chinese books is given to each class and many such boere getting on and of higher branches of ingthematics, a little less in turn by the vernacular master, each class re- had conversations with employers representing obvious than the uses of arithmetic and men-ceiving instruction on two half days a week, two shipping firms, one wholesale firm, two suration, and the science is more open to ane inorning and nne afternoon. The school large retail firms and three engineering firms, the danger of its processes being carried is opened for 3 hours in the morning, af hours and I should like to give you their testimony out without & full knowledge of their in the afternoon on five days a week One as to some extent it reflects on the practical meaning. It is certainly not often that the half-hour a day being given to recreation. In value of our Educational System. Of course problems of daily life can be solved standards I to IV the ordinary subjecty of there are exceptions and we are pleased to by equations, shiple or quadratic, though the instruction are taken, viz.: reading, writing, hear of certain boys making headway but let equations have their purposes to which I shall arithmetic, and conversation. During the year us examine the case of the average boy leav- presently refer. Familiarity with progressions the following subjects have been introduced ing school. This is a summary of their arithmetical, harmonical, and geometrical into standards V, VI and Vil. General history. evidence. "The boys you send us from your produces neatness of arrangement ofen of general descriptive geography; the geography Anglo-Chinese Schools are reliable when they practical uulity. I have myself on various of special countrios, algebra, and object lessons are told to copy letters in a legible hand, and occasions had to remodel scales of aularies, Summary of Results:-Geography, aritime they take things down from dictation fairly allowance rewards etc., to a logical system with tic and colloquial English, in standards and 11 well, but they show title or no resource, are a first term and a common difference. Trigo very satisfactory; arithmetic in all classes lacking in general intelligence and do not nometry in some degree a continuation of good; algebra in standards VI and VII very make that progress and show that interest in mensuration bringing in calculations based on good. The addition of good apparatus, maps, their work which an employer looks for." angles between straight lines in the case of pictures, &c, his greatly improved the method They gave me illustrations of this and I tried plane and between circular aress in the case of of teaching. On the whole the most satisfactory to atone for it by saying that there was the pro- spherical trigonometry. No man can become work has been done in standards I; II and V, bability of the employer and his European a surveyor and engineer or navigator without a ecommendation:-The rests ia arithmetic subordinates expecting too much from junior knowledge of the solution of triangles, that is generally are satisfactory and as a result of clerks, but this was met by the employers the calculation of measurements from measured experiments I have made with standards V, VI giving me living instances of boys, who, after sides and angles, which requires the power of and Vii as well as with Chinese masters Jäin two or three years in the business were not being able tosolve algebraic equations and to use convinced that the Chinese boys have a marked capable of taking charge of a desk, of writing logarithms. Though the theory of logarithms ability for mathematical studies. In view of in good business style to a foreign firm, or of is difficult their use is simple and mechanical, the importance of this subject from both dealing intelligently with quotations and esti and by substitution processes of addition practical and purely educational point of view.mates from Chinese firmus here and inland, be and subtraction for the more lengthy oues of I would like to recommend that practical cause they lacked knowledge concerning the multiplication and division enormously simp mathematics be provided for standards V, V! commodities or were unable to apply what lifies complicated calculations. This is one and VII, following a graded three years' little knowledge they had, and their ignor instance in which the work of advanced ma course and including the element of practi- ance of practical mathematics was astonishing, thematicians is used to facilitate the practical cal geometry, trigonometry, mensuration and Only the other day 1 discovered a clerk using employment of mathematics by those who have and graphical calculations. To accomplish a most primitive method to convert £37 ster only studied the elements, and it we were to go something in this direction I do not think the ling into dillars at 1/1, using up a whole and consider the higher branches of the the Saturday morning geography class for sheet of foolscap and checking (?) it by going subject we should find many other instances in Anglo Chinese teachers could do better than over the same figures again. which the formulae derived from difficult coniinue their meetings again this year and go processes are made available for the, daily use through a course of practical mathematics. 1 of the engineer, the shipbuilder, the naviga- have tried one or two of the masters and I can tor and others in similar walks of life confidently say they would take it up eagerly who make use of the results obtained and turn it to the very best use in their own His Excellency then distributed the prizes. by mathematicians without knowing it. schools and in twelve inonths' time they should The Prize List for 1904-5 was as follows: Of these bighter branches, as they are not get through a good deal of useful work. Oxford Locals 1504, (enior):-Bunjes, C. taught in this College, it would be superfluous History: Finding the decision of Govern- A. A. Tse Yan-Jung, A. A., (Junior)—Galluzzi, now to speak, except to say that the few of ment on the recommendations of the "Com R. F. Pang Kwok Sui, Sargon, E. A. Alonço, your boys who may be tempted by mathemati-mittee on History and Geography" and in the D. A. Galluzzi, U. C., (Preliminary)-Wongcal aptitude to go beyond your school courses, absence of suitable text books, a start has been Wai Shi, Budder Deen, Tsoi Wa Cheung, will find the subject more and more fascinating made in general history and in the history of Mooney, R. J. Mak Kai-fuk, Cheung Wo Yau, with each advance in it. This fascination is Greece as a tentative step only. The result is, Hohal Kit
nearly a defect in the study, which developing as yet, doubtful but must not be misjudged as the Scholarships-Morrison Senior,-Lam Shiu- as it does the reasoning power to the highest boys who study history have not been through io. Morrison, Junior,--Ng Shuk-kon, IVA. extent is held by some to be inimical to the the preliminary course which the Committee Stewart, Hung lu-chi. Belilios, Junior, cultivation of the imagination. This reminds attached importance to as the basis of the whole Galluzi, U. Belillos, Junior,-Ny Cheung me of a story, which I am tempted to tell, scheme, ban,lic Blake Phay Kwak sai.
though it will probably be more interesting to the Masters and other gentlemen here present, than to the ladies and the scholars, A Cam bridge undergraduate, who was an enthusiast for iterature, with much difficalty persuaded
10
Dr. Bateson Wright, having finished reading the Report, heartily welcomed the Governor He said it was not necessary for him as it had been during the past fifteen years to introduce the new Governor of the Colony to the Masters and boys. Immediately upon arrival he proposed to pay a visit the College, but owing to the weather and the vacation, a postponement had to take place. But on the third of October he paid them a visit and made a thorough and com; plete inspection of the College and witnessed both the English and vernacular classes at work. He might say that the impression then produced on Masters and boys alike, was of so friendly a character, that he ventured to wel- come him on that occasion as a friend, and not have to bail him as a stranger. (Applause).
Special Prizes. Machell Memorial, Sargon, E. Translation,-E-C. Ng Cheung-han, life C-E. Tang Tát-hung, IA. Mathematics (given by . E. the Governor), Tang Tát-hung. History, IA. Páng Kwok-sui. 1. Tetzel, C. Ila. Nararin, R. HIB. Kwok Kwai-sheung. 11A. Fung Ch'eung: 111. Cheung Wa-cheung. Ilic. Au Kai-fan. Pupil Teachers,-Chan Tz.yui.
Holidays & The school was closed for the first two weeks in April during the Tsing Ming festival and for the month of August. Closed for four days during April to disinfect and cleanse after the death of one or two boys and. one master from plague. During the hot months of June and July the school opened from 7 a.m. to 9 and from to a.m. to 1.
Attendance The highest average attend ance was 97 for March. The lowest average attendance was 43 for December. 54 boys have left during the year. Of this number 7 boys left from Standards III and IV which I attribute to the fact that no less than 5 masters have had charge of these classes at different times. 1 found that a master's resignation to accepta more lucrative appointment always meant 3 or 4 boys leaving as a result. This is unfor- tunate, hat at present there is no remedy for it. Again 18 boys left Standards V, VI and VII, 2 to go to other schools, 3 to the Government service as clerks, &c., the rest to take up junior appointments with business firms. So far 1 have found it an almost impossible matter to induce boys to stay in school for any length of time after they bave passed Standards V and VI. They are restless and anxious to "get af situation. The raising of the fees to Sz, a month has, I find, taken away some boys! though at first I did not think it would ; but it i after all, only natural that scholars should go where the teaching staff is more efficient and where they can pay the same and in many cases a lower fee.
Scholarships :-It has been the rule to grant a number of internal free scholarships open to boys in each class. I now recommend-
(i) Abolition of these scholarships. As a reward for diligence the toy boy. in each class now receives a class prize for general pro- ficiency.
Now this seems a harsh criticism but up- fortunately the main points of it are true and it is for those of us who are interested in Educa- tion to ask the reason, and where possible remedy it. Most of the blame (if I may call it so) attaches to the scholars themselves, wha are tempted to leave school by the offer of a äfteen-dollar billet when they have only a superficial education in English and in Western knowledge, and even in their own language. The Government provide the schools, the It is for the apparatus, and the teachers. Chinese boy therefore to look further ahead. He need not be afraid that he is losing an opportunity when he refuses the first which comes his way. An employer whether he be a business man or a Government employé is only too glad and ready to engage a competent servant, and I have told the boys that they are badly paid because they are not worth more and that "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing." I have recommended to the inspector of Schools that in future the scholarships granting free tuition in the District Schools should be given to pupils who have passed St. V and who wish to continue in VI and VII.Formerly a scholarship was given to the top boy in each class, but as the top boy now receives a book prize for general proficiency, he should not require any further inducement, and I have further recommended that the Department should grant having certificates to those boys only who have had at least one year's school ing above St. V. When the boys see the advantage of this and when our teaching of important subjects like Geography and Mathematics is reformed on the lines which you, sir, have, broadly indicated, we may see the scholars leaving the Anglo-Chinese Schools well equipped for their future career whatever it may be, a credit to themselves, to their teachers, their employers and their country.
WANCHAL
with which to illustrate inany, tif ibe lessons, I are perfectly certain of the meaning than long and I would suggest that mors object lesson anes that, though they may sound learned, may charts should be furnished. The new reader not mean what you think they do. In telling for Standards 1 and it are a decided improve you to learn to pronounce English well I know ment on the old Orient readers, inasmuch as I am telling you to do what is very difficult the reading matter and illustrations in them are u Chaose boys; it will be the more, 10." more comprehensible to the boys. Similar your credit when you do it well. As regards books should be obtained for the higher talking English correctly, there can be no standards. With regard to history (Greece), question of the use of it to those among you I regret to say: That the pupils do not who are going to live and work in this English take the amount of interest in this subject as colony and those that go elsewhere will fi, d might be expected. Bearing in mind that the that English is, the most, useful language to majority of the boys. do not remain in school know in most places in the world that are for many years I am of the opinion that a washed by, the waves of the sea. And as tớ: course of English history would be more up-reading fluently, you must remember that your school course is intended to open to you those preciated and useful.
books which will continue your education when you have left school.
The study of Chinese. The selection of books and the new syllabus have turned out a great success. The pupils are taking a keen interest in this subject, and good results have been obtained. Since the in- clusion of Chinese in the syllabus, a marked improvement has been noticed in translation, the percentage of passes this year being 96.4 as | against 87.8 of last year. The Inspector of Schools conducted the annual examination of this school at the beginning of the present month, the result of which will, no doubt, be made public in due course. wha
Furniture. The desks and forms in this school are in a very dilapidated condition, rendered so through long years of use. Unloss they are to be replaced by new and modern ones, they ought to be repaired during the New Year vacation,
The next thing I wish to speak to you about is manners. There is a Chinese gentleman here whom I have the honour to reckon among my friends who tolls me that the boys of Hong- kong have not got the good manners that they had when he was young-that the young do not now pay the same respect to the old as they did, and that the same gratitude is not shown to those who endeavour to assist then, This is not as it should be, and I would urge on the boys' of the Anglo-Chinese schools to give attention to manners, of which the essence is to pay respect where respect is due and to do nothing that may hurt the feelings of others. The right-minded person feels a rude- ness more than a blow, and the right-mind- ed person will no more think of showing a Sport. The manly game of football was in rudeness than of striking a blow. The motto troduced in this school a couple of months ago, of one of our oldest English public schools is "Manners maketh man, and i w ntthis motto and it has been taken up by the pupils with great spirit and enthusiasm, Since its intro-borne in mind by the Chinese boys in our duction, we have played three matches, and Hongkong schools. It is entirely consistent am pleased to say, we have managed to win all with the teachings of Confucius. of them. The playground at our disposal is. rather small and dangerons, otherwise, some other branches of sport and physical drill may he indulged in by the pupils with the same vigour. "I would suggest that a low wall he erected on the western boundary of the school in order to have a little more privacy, and also to avoid the danger of boys from falling over the embankment. ›
YAUMATI.
Mr. Curwen said-Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen,-In presenting this the and annual report on the Yanmati School, I am pleased to have to report that it is gradually increasing and that by the time of the comple. tion of the new premises, I am hopeful that the nucleus of a good school will be ready for transference.
Average attendance, 1902, 30; 1903, 76; last year about 86. In 1902, boy, used to be given small rewards for regular attendance; in 1953, these rewards were abolished and a fee of 50 cents per month charged and last year this was again increased to $2 per mensem, and notwith standing the great increase in fees, the average attendance has considerably increased. This I think is extremely satisfactory when one takes into account the premises in which the school is carried on at present, and the limited staff, viz: a Anglo-Chinese masters.
Curriculum. The work for the past two years has been largely of an experimental nature in order to discover the best and simplest methods of imparting instruction. For instance, last year I determined to try a plan followed in a great many schools at home, and that was to teach words before teaching the alphabet. This method I soon found to head stinct failure, and my conclusion is that the first work must be chiefly spelt on the alphabet and phonetics, Another experiment was in the teaching of English composition. This commenced in Standard, by asking boys to write a given number of sentences about a picture or an object placed before them. This was fol- lowed in Standard It by asking boys to reproduce the substance of a short story told to them (reading not the sightest use), and the same in Standard III only of a more difficult nature. This has been a great success and at the present time there are boys in the three lower standarde who have been studying English for less than two years, and who can write better English composition than some boys in the upper Standards who have been studying English for five years. History as Your Excellency is aware has been taught during the past year. The teaching of this subject has occasioned me many hours of anxious thought as to which was the best method. It is perfectly useless ie, from an educational point of view, to give a Chinese boy a book and ask hini to study a pan or parts of it because he sets himself to learn it off by heart. This subject must be taught by means of oral lessons, illustrated by pictures Mr. Young Bee said: Your Excellency, Mr.whenever possible, and netes have to be written on the black board for the pupils to copy and Irving, ladies and gentlemen, with your kind permission. I will read a brief report on the digest. The first part of the following lesson has to be devoted to oral questioning on the Wanchai School for the year 1904.
Numerical Strength-At the beginning of the subject matter of the previous lesson. This year under review, there were 10s pupils on the plan of teaching history has been fairly suc register. After the usual New Year vacation, cessful, work was re-commenced on the 2nd March, when 13 boys from the vernacular school and 48 new boys were enrolled. During the re- mainder of the year 13 more new pupils were admitted, making together 74 new boys enrolled throughout the year. The total number of scholars at this school during the year was 178. Attendance. During the year, the school was open on 198 days, and the average daily attendance was 114.67, which is an improve ment on that of the previous year which was 96.31. The trouble of boys absenting themselves on the most trifling pretexts still prevailed, notwithstanding that strong measures had been adopted to prevent it. The Saturday morning classes at the Saiyingpun School at which the assistant-masters were required to attend, have been responsible for the small number of school days during the year,
anathematical friend to read "Paradise Lost," When the book was returned, be expected the friend to be as enthusiastic as himself. But the latter said he cou'd find very little in the work. There was one neat thing. The dimen- Special Prizes: Composition, IA Galluzzi, U. sions of Satan were given, and the time he 18. Curreem, C. A. Budder Deen, a took to fall from leaven to Hell. It was thus Cheung Ka-shing, IIIA. Lo Kam-chrung, Its possible to calculate the distance between the Chi Weng-cheung, IIIc. Sung Shiu-ki. Celestial and Infernal regions by a simple sub English Class Prizes, IA. Lam Shiv-in stitation in the formula, Sequals ft. Square. (Morrison), Pang Kwok-sui (Blake), Jang Jatele I close my remarks I wish to emphasise hung (Mathematics), Galluzzi U. (Sm. Belifes), the use of mathematics other than its immediate Alanço, D. (General Progress), fa. Lo Chiu practical application. It is recognised to be ying, Chan Wai-tung, A. Leung Shi-wai, the study which more than any other develops Wong Hoi-man. 11. Ip Chi, Kok Kwai what I have elsewhere called the male element sheung, A. Lau Shiu-Niin, Yeung of the mind-the reasoning power. I wish also Pak-ün, In Yeung No, Leung Kau-kü to add a word of practical advice to the boys Ilc. Ng Cheung-hau, Au Kai-fan. IVA. Ng and a suggestion to the Head Master. A Shak-kon (Morrison.) Yeung Chák-pak, Lau blunder in a mathematical operation absolutely Kwong san. IV. Lo Ping-nám, Tsá Chák. vittat ng, as it must do, the result obtained by min. IV. Li Lün-kwai, Yeung Shuk-ping. a correct process is the worst of faults, and is VA. Cheng Ka-cheung, Cheuk Man-shu. V. generally avoidable by checking. A mere Cheng Chi-on, So Pui-hang. Vc. Cheung-going over a calculation a second time is not Hok-ch'an, Ch'an Ki-leung. V. Kó Sik- always ac even generally the best way of check ying, Li Kdan-sam. VA. Ip Upek. Cheung ing. Sometimes this can be done by reversing Shau-min. VID Ch'an U-kw'ai, Pún Sz-ků, the process and generally by an operation of VIC. Chan Hing-chung. Wan Kam-meng. mental arithmetic. I suggest to the Head VITA. Chin Láp, Lo. Hin-cheung. VII. Chan Master that when he finds a boy habit- U-Chuo, Li Pui-cheung. VIIC. Yeung Ming-ually blundering in his calculations he should san, Cheng Yuk-un. VIID. Chin Chung-cho, make him show at the loot of each solu- Yeung Kil-tó, VIIIA. Tss U-kwai, Kwong on the method he has adopted to roughly In-nüa. Vil U Sheung, An Yeung-check it. In conclusion, I would explain VIIIC, Ch'an Leung-on, Chi Wai-ki.
that I have chosen to give to this College, as General Progress.-18. Curreem C. a. the most important educational establishment Yamasaki M. 111A. Tsoi Wa-cheung, 111 in this Colony, the prize for mathematics, be Osman A. M. IVA. Abbas Y. IV. Kwan lo cause the mathematical prize was the one ki, VIA. Markar H. G. VIC. Gourji I. VIA, | which, when I was at the Royal Military Ismail A. VIIn Osman S. Vilc. Wagener R.Academy, I was most desirous of winning, and VIID. Yeung Pun-sit, VIIIA. Ali Mahomet, the article I have selected as a prize is the VIII. Tsui Yai-sun, Vilic. Sin Lim.
nearest approach could find here to that Vernacular-Class Prizes,-la. Cheung which was presented to me for mathematics Hing-foog. In. Ho Chák-ain. Ic. Wong Kai twenty-five years ago, and which is now on tsek. ID. Chan U-k'wai. IE. Au Yeung-hung. my office table 1 propose to give a similar 11A. Yeung Shin-po. II. Chiu 1p. 11c.
prize for the same subject to this College every Ng Ko-peng. A. Kwok Wing-chi. IB.
year while I remain at Hongkong and I hope Kwok Ut-shang. 111c, Cheng Yung. IVA. the Governor's prize for mathematics will be Chiu Chung-cho.. IVB. Chiu Chek-fan. IVC. considered worth working for. (Applause) Lu Ting-in.. V. Lo Chung-peng, Fung Hon- Dr Bateson Wright said he had to thank His Excellency very much, for his very kind address. As he had said, they were exceed. Games, etc. The boys have had rambles inely weak in mathematics, and the points to to Kennedy Town and Aberdeen and this which he had referred showed what a grasp he somewhat improved their knowledge of local possessed of the subject. The boys had failed geography. Of English games football in be of this school. In April. East, Mr. Fung Kits:udents of English as geniuses, as during in their papers to prove their work, made silly coming quite a favourite pastime. The schooling was appointed probationer. He did not, errors, and frequently misplaced the decimal, has played matches, and though they have not however, occupy that post lon, as he resigned which was a very serinus paint. He (the won any they hope to do much better in the at the end of September, when Mr. Io Yuk speaker) would certainly endeavour to take up forthcoming Schools! League Competition. fun, a pupil of this chool, was selected to fill the subject of trigonometry as His Excellency During the year the masters of all the Dis the vacancy. I must say that these repeated had suggested, among the boys in the higher trict Schools have met at Saiyingpun School changes are not conducive to the progress of classes, and hoped that at the annual prize dis on a Saturday morning. Between 9 and to the school. tribution next year, they would be able to make o'clock one of the masters has been called a satisfactory report.
upon to give an object lesson to the upper Three cheers were then given for the Gov-classes collectively and in the presence of his ernor, the visitors and donors of prizes, after fellow-teachers who have made notes of the which His Excellency called for three cheers good and weakpoints of the lesson. The lessons for the Head Master, Dr. Bateson Wright, and dealt with local industries sugar, iron, påter, the proceedings terminated.
silk, etc, and common objects. The scholars have afterwards taken down the noter given them on the blackboard for future use in rome position and essay-writing. When the school Was dismissed half-an-hour was spent listening to the comments of the masters on the lesion given.
peng.
(i) bat 4 scholarships be awarded annually open for competition to boys who have passed through Standard V and tenable for two years. The scholarships to be granted annually commencing March 1st, 1905, granted free admission to school during the tenure of the scholarship. The headmaster to have the right to withhold or transfer scholarship at the end of the first year of tenure'if the holder's report is not deemed satisfactory. My reason for this innovation is to offer an inducement to bays to continue their education in Standards VI and VII. '
Chinese. This subject I have been in- formed by the Inspector of Schools has not been a success The reason for this I am con- viriced is to be found in the system of classifi- cation in this subject, as followed in the Dis- trict Schools. Boys will have to-be classified In Chinese according to their knowledge of the language and not as at present be placed, in classes I, II, III or IV in Chinese just be cause they happen to be in those classes for English. The teaching of the two languages should be altogether separate and distinct in the first four classes. Before the re-opening of the schools I shall ask the Inspector of Schools to sanction a scheme for rearranging: the teaching of this subject and by so doing render more time available for English...
General. As regards other subjects, there is little comment needed from me as there is not the slightest doubt that the Inspector of Staff-During the year Messrs. Ng Fung-Schoals will remind us of our deficiencies. chauand Leung Shiu-on, 1st and 2nd, assistants, The Boys. If we are to accept Carlyle's were transferred to the Yaumati School, and art of a genius, viz.: "that a genius is one Mr. Kwok King-shan, 2nd assistant at Yau with an infinite capacity for taking pains," mati, was promoted to the first assistant-ship then we must write down nearly all Chinese my experience of, nearly twenty years as a teacher, I have never come in contact with a more earnest and, determined set of students than the average class of Chinese boys.
In conclusion must thank the Inspector of Schools for his ready help, assistance and sym- pathy when required, my staff which although small have worked extremely hard, and last but not least the boys themselves who have worked
In conclusion, I will say two words on the matter of sport. In England we lay stress on the healthy mind going along with the healthy body, and we believe that athletic exercises are the principal means for making the body. healthy. This seems to me to apply equally to Chinese boys, and I shall, therefore, be glad the masters encourage, and the boys go in for, such exercises as football and cricket.
I will now give one prize and one present. The prize-a book-I will give to the boy pointed out to me by the inspector as most proficient in reading and talking English and the presenta football--I will give to the Wanchai School, as I have often seen them at the game as pass their playground when I go to polo, and so I know they will appreciate this gift. (Applause).
THANKS,
Mr. Irving said this was the second annua! prize distribution in connection with the is uict Schools since they were placed on a new basis. Last year there was a spirit of 'come placency in the air, and such a spirit was not unnatural to those of them who remembered the schools on their unregenerate basis. But they must not rest on their laurels, but try and advance themselves, on the best lines, such lines as His Excellency had pointed out to them that day. They must not be satisfied with what little they had done up to this time, but, advance, and see that the schools were better each succeeding year. In the name of the Masters and the scholars of the District Schools, he thanked His Excellency for coming there to distribute the prizes, and still more for the words of counsel and advice which he bad given.
The scholars then gave three hearty cheers for His Excellency, after which on the call of the Governor, cheers were given for the Head Masters, and Mr. Irving, the Inspector of schools.
The proceedings then terminated. HONGKONG COLEHGH OF MEDI- CINE FOR CHINESE.
· DISTRIBUTION OF DIPLOMAS.
27th inst.
In the Legislative Council Chamber, at noon, to-day, H. E. the Governor (Sir Matthew Nathan, R.R., B.C.M.G.) presented the diplomas to the successful students at the recent examin-
ation in connection with this College. Amongst those present were Hon. Mr. F. H. May, C.M.G., (Rector of the College), Dr. F. W. Clark (Dean of the College), Dr... Thomson (Secretary and Treasurer) Dr. Atkinson, Hon. Dr. Ho Kaię CM.0, Mr. A. Ramjahn, Dr. Bateson Wright, Mr. J. Dyer Ball, Mr. G.. Piercy, Hon, A.:W. Brewin, Hon. Mr. Wei Yuk, Dr. Hunter, Dr.. Barnett, Dr. Pearse, Dr. Gimlette, Mr. D. Wood, Mr. Yung Hee, Rev. C. H. Bickling, Mr. Tso Kwai Ng, Mr. Tong Lai Chum, Mr. Woo Ai Chan and others.
Dr. Francis Clark, said:-Your Ex- cellency-I have the honour to present 10 you four students of the Hongkong College of Medicine for Chinese, who have, after five years of real hard work, earned the proud distinction of becoming Licentiates of that College. The profession of medicine is one that calls for many high qualities on the part of its yotaries, and it is our camest hope. that these gentlemen will worthily maintain the honour and dignity of their calling; that they will be exemplary in the discharge of their civil duties; that they will not look upon their admission to our ranks solely as a means of earning a livelihood, though truly the labourer is worthy of his hire, in this as in all other carnest work, but rather that they will remember that it is their espe cial privilege to extend relief and consola tion to their fellow-creatures in the hour of their affliction; and lastly that they will Assist in spreading the light of learning among their countrymen, whose eyes have yet to be opened to many of the marvellous truths of modern science. We have much to learn from that ancient nation whose vast. Empire lies besides us, for are they not models of patience and industry for all the world to imitate, but in the matter of the relief of human suffering the East has lagged sadly behind the West, and though the Asian pharmacopcia con talned many of the most potent drugs, now known to Western Science for long years be. for their names even were known to us, yet, their une has been hampered and impeded by all that overgrowth of mysticism, astrology and superstition from which the more robust thought of our own nasion has long since. Fees At the beginning of the year, a fee
shaken itself free, yet we must not think that of $ per month was collected from every pupil
China's leaders are altogether indifferent to the as hard or harder than any of us.
onward progress of science, for did not (free scholars excepted), When the school was reopened after the New Year vacation, the His Excellency then distributed the prizes. one of the greatest of her song,” the THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH
late Li Hung Chang, write to us in 1887 scholarships were abolished, and all former free scholars and bays from the former vernacular H. E. the Governor said-Boys-On that 1e hoped-chemistry and, anatomy school had to pay $1 per month. The fee for this occasion I am going to address my would form a large and particular part of new pupils was fixed at Sz. The total amount few remarks to you, and I will ask your the training we meant to give." We have of fees collected during the year was $1,591.50, masters to explain the afterwards to those not yet done all that we wish to do being an increase of $979, upon that of 1903. among you who do not know enough English in the direction of the teaching of anatomy. No fee was collected during the New Year and as yet to understand what I ny. have visit from the cadaver, but we have gone, I think, midsummer vacations.
ed, since I came here, the Wanchai and Yau as far as we can go under present conditioor, Work and Progress.-At the beginning of the mati schools, and I know that the boys there and now we only await a college building for I am glad to report that the masters have year, the vernacular school formerly attached are being taught English in the right way, and the more efficient training of our students taken kindly to this method of teaching and to this school was abolished, and a new sylla in the Inspector's report I read that this is also especially in the subjects of anatomy and they prepare and give their lessons in a way bus was introduced in which history and Chi-the case at the Sayingpun School, I want chemistry, the former of which requires, a that makes the lesson bright, interesting and nese were included. Throughout the year, the you to do your best to take advantage of this dissecting room and the latter a well equipped more logical. This method seems to me a ra teaching of all subjects has been, so far as poss teaching of English, so that you may quickly labor.tory, and I think I may say that this is tional one if Chinese masters are to give instruesible, carried out in accordance with the new learn to pronounce it properly, speak it correct already beginning to (ake shape on paper, tion in Western Knowledge and the Inspector methods, and I think the experiment has beenly, and read it easily. To do this I advise you although we have not yet reached the more of Schools who has periodically visited the crowned with undoubted success. A number of not only to talk English in school, but to talk it practical stage of bricks and mortar. The classes has spoken well of its results on the object lessons on geography and natural history also with each other on the playground and at College has now 40 students attending work of all the'schools. NA sapna dong have been given to all the standards, in which home, and I also advise you, when you sea or its courses of lectures, which is double the expect that this year hygiene, physiology particular attention was paid to English hear words that you do not understand, to ask number of students that we had only ave Mr. W. H. Williams read the report on the and sanitary science will be added to the list colloquial. Some difficulties, however, were your master to explain them to you, is bet yours ago, and this evor increasing pres jastruction to the higher classes. The practi- working of this School as follows — ́of modern lassons to be giran,
experienced in obtaining the necessary objects | ine, in writing, to use short words of which you, sura on our spaco renders it necessary that we
The Governor said: Dr. Bateson Wright, Ladies and Gentlemen: I have to thank you Dr. Bateson Wright, for your kind words of welcome. It has given me special pleasure to present the prizes to-day at this the principal school of the Colony, which has been established for over 40 years and has been for more than Half of that period under your distinguished direction. The report which you have read to us is a business-like document. The record average daily attendance of 1,000 boys shows the great and growing importance of the institatión. I noted with satisfaction your good report of your staff and the special words of praise that have been given to the five masters of the Vernacular School. Your remarks on the work done by the scholars in the different subjects of study are also interesting and lead me to hope that 1995 will be a year of promise. Ladies and gentlemen, you are probably by this time sufficiently familiar with my methods to anticipate that I shall pick out the weak subject of the school ap the one to discuss on this occasion. In order not to disappoint you I will take the following paragraph His Excellency the Governor (Sir Matthew. from the Head Master's report: "Mathema Nathan) presented the prizes to the successful tics were very weak, a gebra being the best students of the above Schools, this morning, subject, Euclid and mensuration the worst.
the function taking place at Wantsai School, Book-keeping in class A produced a Queen's Road East. There were present Dr. "masco, serious blunders Vitiating 70 per Bateson Wright, Messrs. Scott W. Curwen cent. of he papers." Instruction in ma- (uma), Young Hee, W. B. Williams, Irving, thematics in the College is confined to four Braidwood, R. A. B. Ponsonby (Private Sense elementary subjects, Arithmetic, including tary to the Governor), Rev. W. Bridie and book-keeping, plane geometry, mensuration others. and algebra. At my request Mr. Wright has consented to add trigonometry as a subject of
ANGLO-CHInese distRICT GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS.
ANNUAL PRIZE DISTRIBUTION, ·
26th inst.
SAIVINGPUN.
1