485
476
he is by the enormous task of mastering English can yet beat the
other. But it is a demonstrable fact that even the top Chinese boys
can not write a page of English without gross mistakes. In what then
does this alleged inferiority consist ? It can not surely be main-
tained that non-Chinese boys take a whole school course and then can
not write English ! Surely my second extract from the Bishop's
Petition sufficiently explains any apparent inferiority. They are
idle and listless and inattentive because the instruction given is
not suited to their needs. If it were they should surely be able to
master their own language.
-
What history is taught in these mixed Schools ?
English History. And why ? Surely a detailed knowledge of the Wars of
the Roses is not much use to a foreigner especially an Oriental ?
The answer of course is that the history which should be taught to
different nationalities is different, or rather it should be taught
from a different standpoint. What must be taught in detail to one,
may be lightly sketched for another. And how can this be done when
the two nationals are sitting at the same desk, like water and oil in
one vessel ?
That it is more economical to educate Chinese
and non-Chinese separately is I think demonstrable from a single
example.
Take a group of average non-Chinese boys and
average Chinese boys, each group being about to join an European
School. The following points of difference can safely be predicated.
Non-Chinese Boys.
They will average from five to seven years of age.
They will have received little or no education,
Chinese Boys.
They will average from 11- 12 or 15 years of age.
They will have received at least 4 years severe mental training in their own langu-
age.
They