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their statement that "as a boy passes through the Upper School
"he learns three periods of English History (which sometimes
"overlap and sometimes leave wide gaps) and there his knowledge
"ends" In two classes of the Upper School boys learn general
English History from the 11th. to the 18th. Centuries inclusive
and in the top class modern periods in detail. It would be an
improvement if the course gave some knowledge of universal
history and of the parts played by China and Great Britain in
it. But before considering changes in the teaching of this
subject I shall await the receipt of the Memorandum by Mr.
E. Ralphs with regard to which I communicated to you in my
No. 5080 Despatch No. 331 of the 30th. August last.
4.
I am disposed to agree with the Examiners
that the study of Mathematics might advantageously be carried further in the Upper School, but consider that the solution of plane triangles would be a more useful addition to the curriculum than the binomial theorem. Drawing both freehand and geometrical should be taught. Foremen of works, Draughts-men, Architects, Surveyors and Engineers are required in the Colony quite as much as Clerks and Compradores. The Head Master has stated that he can see no way of making a redistribution of classes for mathematical subjects but I am bringing the matter again to his notice.
5.
The question of providing more suitable English reading books is one that was raised in last year's report; the Palmerston Primers and Infant Readers are not well adapted for Chinese children. I have now referred the question to the Governing Body with the suggestion that some inducement might be offered to Masters in the Colony to prepare