implied in these observations and to judge of their bearing
on the moral standard
which
you ought to apply to the treatment of your Chinese boys. You are unjust to them by applying to them the traditional code of European morality honour and truthfulness.
(6) There is another trait of character which appears to me to be very prominent in Chinese boys. They are very susceptible of stimulation by being classified with others on competing terms. They are very readily encouraged if they can see their progress in any subject. Emulation and individual competition are an element in progressive study, and caution is the chief stimulus applied in the national schools of China where class teaching is entirely subordinated to pushing each individual scholar separately according to the measure of talent he possesses. European teachers sneer at this supposed fault of the Chinese school system. But it has its deep roots both in the psychic constitution of the Chinese mind and in the peculiar difficulties of the Chinese written language. I am reluctant to say how individual and class teaching should be apportioned on this ground. English school for Chinese. The difficulties of the problem have made themselves felt in this school. Individual boys...
Page 120