bl
full four years course in a western language and literature should be supplemented by courses in Philosophy and History, to make eastern students familiar with the mental processes and system of ideas which underlie a western language and literature. But the fourth year course in Philosophy has had to be dropped as there is no one to teach it; and the courses in Logic and in Ethics are organised on a part-time basis.
Such an arrange- ment is most unsatisfactory. For the Group of Letters and Philosophy, the present inadequate staffing means that students in their fourth year, instead of taking a subject which is an organic part of their group, have to take from other groups fourth year subjects which are the culmination of these other groups driving them to think that there is little reason for beginning in a group from which they will be compelled to switch when they reach their final year. For the teaching of Logic and Ethics, it means that subjects which ought to be active courses in precise reasoning and individual discussion, are re- duced to mere topics of class lectures and text-books. In this respect the Chinese studies in the Faculty of Arts are better provided for than Wesern studies.
The Group of Letters and Philosophy represents the course of studies which, by general consent, have counted for most in the Arts Faculties of European Universities.
But this group cannot begin to take its proper place in Hong Kong until the University appoints a Reader in Philosophy. For many years the Faculty has recommended the creation of such a post, not as a matter of expansion, but as a means of fulfilling existing pro- grammes of study. It is to be hoped that among the present proposals for the creation of new posts, a Readership in Philo- sophy will be regarded as a first necessity.
ROBERT K. M. SIMPSON,
Professor of English.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
Staff:-L. Forster, M.A. (Professor of Education).
A. Morris, Esq. (Master of Method).
G. W. Reeve, B.A. (Part-time Lecturer in Ethics and
Logic).
44
Dr. E. M. Minnett, M.D. (Part-time Lecturer in Hygiene). The number of students in the department for 1931 :-
Ist Year
2nd Year
3rd Year
4th Year
Examinations
1st Year
2nd Year
3rd Year
4th Year ...
Group 4a Group 4c
2
2
2
9
2
6
5
2
TOTAL
II
19
Pass
Fail
Absent
2
2
9
I
I
6
2
6
I
There is still a demand for our graduate teachers, no diffi- culty being experienced at present in finding appointments for those who pass through our course.
During the year a group of graduates have met each fort- night to discuss educational problems.
The Education Society continues to prosper. Its chief activities this year have been :-the opening of a Free Night School, for which Mr. Li Ka Tung and Mr. Chow Koxik and the Chairman Mr. Cheung King Pak have done very valuable work; visits to Canton and Wuchow; the publication of the Education Journal under the Editorship of Mr. Yeap Choong Yow, in addition to the usual series of lectures.
The Department has again to thank Professor J. L. Shellshear for a short course of lectures on the Nervous Structure, the object of this course being to help the students in their Psychological studies.
45
L. Forster, Professor of Education.
69
Page 40Page 41