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Enclosure 1.
C. 0.
19452
REC.
No.
2
88.
REC 14 SEP 88,
308
HONGKONG.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HEAD MASTER OF THE GOVERNMENT CENTRAL SCHOOL FOR 1887.
Presented to the Legislative Council, by Command of His Excellency the Governor.
Government CENTRAL SCHOOL,
HONGKONG, 16th January, 1888.
Sin, I have the honour to forward the Annual Report on this School for 1887.
1. The total number of boys on the Roll for the past year was 601. The school days numbered 234, the difference from last year being accounted for, by the four days special holiday, given by His Excellency the Governor, in November in connexion with the celebration of Her Majesty's Jubilee.
2. To illustrate the condition of the School during the last five years the following table is annexed :-
the school would assemble in its.
present invanitary and incommodious
quarters.
I have the honour to be,
My Qord,
Your Lordships Most Obedient,
Humble Servant,
Woraus
1888,
1884,
1885,
1886,
1887,
1883. 1884,
1885, 1886, 1887,
YEAR.
Total Number of Scholars.
Number of School Days.
Monthly Enrolment.
Muximun.
Minimum.
Average Daily Attendance.
556
236
460
378
394
558
238
462
362
411
296
238
499
382
437
610
238
507
419
416
601
281
525
417
449
Average Expense of each Scholar per Average Daily Attendance.
Number
YEAR.
of School Boys Examined.
Percoutage. of
School
Fees.
Passes.
Actual Nett Expenditure.
366
96.98
4,121
13,109.51
33.22
379
95.58
4,981
13,378.62
32.48
412
95.38
5,278
12,885,00
29.45
405
94.81
5,422
884
97.65
0,547
11,680.41 11,872.70
26.17
26.10
ANNUAL EXAMINATION.
3. The result of the Annual Prize Examination in English subjects, just held, is eminently satis- factory. Only 9 boys failed out of 384 examined, in other words 974 per cent passed. As this is the last Annual Examination which will be held in this school building, the history of which extends over a quarter of a century, I may be pardoned for dwelling on this signal success, which forms a fitting crown to the labours of so many years. It will be reinembered that on ny arrival, six years ago, after examining the school I expressed my astonishment and gratification at the attainments in English of the Chinese, who form the vast majority of Central School boys. Since then, no stone has been left unturned, steadily and get without undue haste, to raise the standard. English Composition was introduced into the 4th class; translation from and into Chinese was made obligatory in every class; English Grammar and Geography were extended three classes lower. The result of this exteni- sion is shown in the present examination; of the 314 boys examined in English Grammar 90 per cent. passed, while 94 per cent, passul of the 110 examined in English Composition; and I may say idiom of expression and thoughtfulness in ideas the essays presented by these Chinese boys-who, is must be remembered, do not associate with English, out of school hours, cannot fail to be considered admirable. Making comparison with the percentage table of last year, I observe a higher percentage obtained by the school this year in every subject, except Map-Drawing which is about the same figure. Special improvement is noticeable in Arithmetic, Grainmar, Geography, Euclid, Algebra, General Intel- ligence Papers and Mensuration.
that for
4. The severity of the test applied to the classes in this school precludes all possibility of any comparison being instituted with work done in any other school in the Colony. Not only are there no Special Optional subjects-every subject, Euclid, Algebra, Latin, Physical and Commercial Geography,