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previous one, who would not bate a tittle of his rights. The present master makes no complaints, but it is currently reported and generally believed in Aberdeen and other adjacent places that, instead of receiving anything, he hes to give monthly presents to certain of the villagers for the privilege of getting their children to teach. The school has improved considerably under the pre- In order of efficiency it was last on the list in 1872. It is now twentieth, but it will be long before it is in a very satisfactory state, if the people continue to do as they have been doing.
sent master.
9. The number enrolled at the 15 schools which are entirely under Government control was 998, giving an average of 67 scholars to each. These schools are now getting into a very satisfactory condition, as far as numbers and regularity are concerned. They were long a source of much trouble. A school would be first on the list this year and at the bottom of it the next, without any very apparent reason for the change. No doubt the getting quit of many unqualified masters, and the fact that both masters and scholars now know better what is expected of them, have gone far to bring this about. These schools, ten years ago, were as unsatisfactory as the aided schools are now; and it is this which gives rise to the hope that before another decade is over an equally great change will have taken place in all the native schools in the Colony.
10. The best of the 15 schools is the one at Stanley. The present master has the credit of making it what it is. It is a model of order and regularity, and is in high esteem in the village. The master, however, is very unwilling to remain. He is dissatisfied with the place, as it removes him so far from anything like congenial society. The people, too, do not seem to live together in great harmony, and he is very much afraid of getting mixed up with their disputes. It will be a serious matter for the school if he cannot be persuaded to remain.
11. The schools at Sar-ying Pún, Sheng án. Tái Wong Kung, Wantsai and Shán kí Ván come next in order. At these, the attendance is very large and very regular. At no place has the advantage of a good master been so evident as at Shán-kí Wán. Three years ago, it had become a question whether any further attempt should be made to maintain a school in the village. When a Hákká master was appointed, failure was attributed to the indifference of the people. When he was succeeded by a Púnti, similar excuses were never wanting. Under the present master, both Púntis and Hákkás avail themselves of the school, and express themselves as highly satisfied. If the people were more straightforward when anything is really amiss with a school, salutary changes would be effected more rapidly; but, as a rule, they are studiously silent until their information is no longer of any use.
12. The change at Aberdeen, recommended last year, has now been carried into effect. The best scholar at the Central School was appointed master. English is taught in the forenoon and Chinese in the afternoon. Nothing more was attempted than reading, writing and arithmetic, and possibly little more may be effected during the present year, The little, however, that was attempted was well done; and, taking all things into consideration, the examination at the end of the year was sufficiently satisfactory.
13. The change took place in March, and before the end of the month, 18 scholars were enrolled. They came in very gradually. The new régime was not so popular as some expected; but it was much better that the school should gradually make its way, than be frequented at first and ultimately deserted. The attendance was very regular for six months; but, after that, it declined rapidly, till in November there were only seven scholars. The master got disheartened and insisted on re- signing. There was much difficulty in persuading him to stay. The reason given for withdrawing the boys was that, as they had failed to learn to speak English in six months, there was no hope of their ever being able to do so. It was thus the immediate prospect of turning a knowledge of English to practical account that induced the parents to send their children. Mere mental im- provement was an element in the calculation which it never occurred to them to include. Not- withstanding this, the number of scholars rose to 18 again in December, and 17 were present on the examination day. Nothing startling was ever expected from the change, and years may elapse before much good is done, but in its ultimate success there need be no want of confidence. Prejudices are not removed in a year, and Chinese prejudice in favour of their own system of education is too firmly rooted to be uptorn by any sudden effort.
14. The Central School has reached its culmination as regards numbers and efficiency if the building and the teaching staff remain as they are. It might have been nearer the truth to have said that it had already begun to decline, for it is impossible that only three English masters can do justice to so many scholars. During the year, 502 were enrolled. The highest attendance was 364, the lowest 308. The average number enrolled during the twelve months was 349, and the average attendance for the same period was 329. This is very much in advance of previous years, but here advancement must stop for the present, simply from want of room.
15. There is no reason to suppose that any difficulty will be made about the appointment of an additional master, and that in itself will be of the greatest possible advantage to the school. A new building is a very different matter; but, as the Government is fully alive to the inadequacy of the present accommodation and to the desirability of having as early as possible a school worthy of the name, it is sufficient to record the want here, that there may be no chance of its being lost sight of On these two points, that of a new master and a new school, a special report was made in July last. It is not necessary, therefore, to go into the details again.
16. In the month of May last, the sun of $3,000 was handed over to Trustees by the members of the late Morrison Education Society to found a Scholarship at this school. Up to the present
time, the fund has been lying idle, as the Government has been obliged to decline the, scholarship on the terms offered by the majority of the Trustees. Whether the school will ultimately enjoy the benefit of the scholarship, unfettered by conditions inconsistent with the system on which it is con- ducted, is a question which cannot be much longer delayed. A legal decision on the point at issue seems to be the only practical solution of the difficulty, and such a decision will have to be obtained soon, if no arrangement can be made in the meantime.
17. The difficulty which has arisen in this matter points to recent discussions on the constitution of the school and to the dissatisfaction which has been expressed by some at what they are pleased to call its "godless" character. Were any good likely to accrue from a re-opening of the discussion, or were it at all likely that a statement of the case would carry conviction to the minds of those who object to the school, the question would be discussed here, at the risk of much repetition; but the position which has been taken up with regard to religious teaching has been so often reviewed in these annual reports, and as often challenged by fresh critics, that it would be a futile task to go over the ground again. Theoretically right or theoretically wrong, the position of the Government with regard to education is perfectly intelligible, and has been found to be eminently practical. It is simply an endeavour to meet, as far as can possibly be done, every denomination, Christian and Pagan, on common ground; and a determination to refrain from wounding the susceptibilities of any one on the point of all points on which men are most susceptible. If a precise statement cannot be given of the exact spot on which all are thus met, it does not follow that no such meeting-place has been found. To wait till a theory has been perfected, before action is taken in a matter of vital importance to the well being of the colony as well as of individuals, is to follow the example of Rusticus in making no effort to wade or swim the stream, but contenting himself with waiting on the bank until all the water shall have run down.
18. In the month of April last, the Legislative Council approved of a scheme for the better promotion of elementary education by assisting denominational and other schools on the well-known system of Grants-in-aid. The scheme as applied to the Colony differs in no essential particular from that in operation elsewhere. Certain modifications had, of course, to be made to suit the peculiar necessities of the place, but, beyond that, the scheme contains nothing new or unusual. Its purport may be given in a single sentence. All schools which devote four hours a day to secular instruction may devote the other school hours to religious instruction; and for the actual results of the secular instruction, as ascertained by examination, Government allows a certain fixed sum for each scholar who reaches a certain standard of scholarship. That is virtually the whole scheme; and it has met with the approval of all denominations, Catholic and Protestant alike.
19. During the past year, the following schools applied for Grants:-St. Saviour's Day School (Catholic), St. Stephen's School (Church of England), Victoria Boys' School (Undenominational), Wántsai Chapel School (London Mission), T'ái-p'ing Shán Chapel School (London Mission), and the Baxter Vernacular Girls' Schools (Church of England). St. Saviour's School, being the first to make application, had to comply with the provisions of the scheme in their entirety. The others applied later and, with the exception of the last, were allowed half the values of the standards for those scholars who had attended 100 times. The Baxter Vernacular Schools, not having applied till September, were allowed two-fifths of the values of the standards for 80 attendances. These ar- rangements were made to enable the scheme to be brought into operation at once, and to get the returns made up at the end of the year.
20. St. Saviour's School, under the Management of the Revd. Father PALMER, was attended during the year by 110 scholars, principally Portuguese, but including English and other nation- alities as well. The average monthly enrolment was 64, and the daily attendance varied from 44 to 62. The number presented for examination, that is, all who had attended 200 times and upwards, was 25.
Of these 16 passed and 9 failed. The grant to the school amounted $64. This must not be taken as a measure of what the school can do, and will do in the future; although, even as a first examination, it is not by any means satisfactory, and no one feels this more than the manager and teacher. Two points need careful looking to in this school. There must be a stricter discipline in the way of attendance, and the teaching power must be increased, before the school can take a high rank among the educational institutions of the Colony. In all other points it leaves little to be de- sired. The teacher is able and energetic, but he cannot possibly do justice to such a large school single- handed. A very favourable change has recently been made in the school books, which were formerly by far too difficult. All the other appliances are ample and in excellent order.
21. St. Stephen's School under the Management of the Revd. A. B. HUTCHINSON was only recently established and is solely for Chinese boys. The number of scholars for the year was 75, the average monthly enrolment being 61, and the daily attendance varying from 40 to 53. On the examination day 29 scholars were examined, of whom only four failed. A larger number would have been presented, if the examination had taken place earlier. Many of the boys had left for their native villages on the approach of the Chinese New Year. This difficulty will be obviated in future either by holding the examination earlier, or by insisting on the boys remaining until within a fort- night of the new year. The school is doing much good in a very poor locality of the city. The teacher has his work at heart and labours faithfully. The sum gained by the school was $33. This will be very much improved upon next year, when the full number of attendances is made up, and full values given for passes. It is also to be noted that the third was the highest standard under which scholars were presented. As the school advances, higher standards will be reached, and a more liberal sum will thus be at the manager's disposal for its support and extension.