Schools & Wright the Inspector of Government College
X
Wright. I am told, is a good scholar; he is evidently a fighting man & has given us a plenty of memorials.
X: Eitel is a German missionary. He is of undoubted ability and learning, but of not much social standing. He came into the Government service under Sir John Pope Hennessy & did not play an altogether approved part during his time; but his annual reports are those of a capable man who understands his work.
The Central School was made over to X. Stewart, who was at once headmaster of that School and Inspector of the elementary Schools. There was an educational upset, which resulted in the two appointments being severed, and finally Eitel was appointed in 1879 Inspector of Schools [7158].
MINUTE PAPER.
It will be noticed that in his letter of the 12th August, Eitel speaks of himself as head of education. I do not think he has this title. He is Inspector of Schools & no more; and the Governor does not seem to admit this, for he suggests that, if Eitel's views "rendered his position on the points at issue untenable in the educational department", he should be designated "Director of Public Instruction" in addition to or in substitution for his title of Inspector of Schools.
The Central School or Victoria College, about which Eitel and Mr Wright are quarrelling, & which is the chief educational institution in Hongkong, is rather an abnormal kind of school or College, for it does the work of a purely elementary School & also carries on high education as far as it can by way of providing for higher education; and this mixture is the essence of the difficulty. They are not decided as to what it is and what it ought to be. Mr Wright clearly wants to make it a place for higher education.