and to give those exercises, which should be introduced into such lessons, but the suggestion has not been adopted in certain classes. With a view to raising the standard of results above that obtained in the old Central School, works for translation into English classes have to be rendered in language which is beyond the comprehension of the boys, a difficulty fatal to teaching, for which is substituted a meaningless and valueless "parrot-like" process, producing results that are less than genuine.
"The teaching to Chinese boys of a language so different in structure from their own must always be a work of peculiar difficulty, but we strongly feel that we have been unwilling accomplices in an attempt to show that results have been achieved which have never been attempted, and to pass off sham effects as the results of genuine teaching."
Secondly, in regard to the Oxford Local Examinations. They compel the first class to look for their final tests in January and July, not only wasting the time of the boys but concentrating the work of the majority of the masters to such an extent that half the pupils above the Preparatory school never see an English teacher save for an occasional lesson in Reading or in (so-called) Translation. More than this, they are far beyond the work of the first class, and the meagre results obtained are almost wholly due to private tuition outside school hours. Such boys are mainly monitors or Eurasian pupils who have had special facilities for the acquirement of English.
The interests of the entire school are sacrificed; the majority of...
Oxford Local.
C. O. 178/281
RECR D.D