1841-1886
HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
01
than counterbalances the exertion required, because we are able to fix exactly the status of each boy in the school in every subject which he has been taught during the year.
17. The subjects of examination comprise the whole work of the year. This is often attended with inconvenience, on account of the frequent promotions which have to be made as vacancies occur. It is hard on a boy to be examined on the work of a class in which he has been for only a few months, but this difficulty cannot be overcome, until the school's great drawback, short attendance, has been removed.
18. This, in most instances, accounts for the comparatively small number of marks gained by boys towards the end of each list. It not infrequently happens that a boy, who would have been among the first in his old class, is among the last in his new one; but in such cases, promotion has to be taken as a prize, and this practically overcomes the difficulty, for the boys think a great deal of promotion to a higher class.
19. The masters, too, would be glad of more permanence in the classes, in order to give a fair test of what they had done during the year. In the higher branches especially, chemistry and algebra for instance, it often happens, at the end of the year, that two thirds of the scholars in the class were not in it when the course of lessons was commenced. This is very discouraging, but it will work its own cure by and by. In the meantime, we must be content to make the best of things as they are. This, indeed, has been the guiding principle in everything connected with this and the other schools. Preconceived notions formed elsewhere cannot be bodily transplanted here; and there will be unfailing disappointment, if the circumstances in which the school-master finds himself are not allowed to make those modifications of action and of opinion which they unceasingly call for. This does not imply a surrender to circumstances, nor is it inconsistent with a high aim and a steady endeavour towards it.
20. The Chinese class for Europeans and other nationalities except Chinese is now beginning to give very satisfactory results. Several of the papers were remarkably well done, and in the case of the first prizeman, the translation into Chinese was given in the Chinese character throughout. This is the first time since the establishment of the class that any such progress has been reached. The class consisted, at the time of examination, of 50 scholars, and the average for the year was 59. These are divided into three sections. The master received his training at the Central School. The class is examined weekly by three of the English masters, an arrangement which could not fail to secure attention on the part of both master and scholars.
21. It were much to be wished that the school hours could be shortened. They would be long in any climate, and they are especially so here. This point has had much anxious consideration for many years, but it is not possible to make the day shorter than eight hours, without seriously interfering with the progress
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