M 15
With regard to the course of Visual Instruction, I must say that our Oxford boys derived very great profit from it last year. We regret however that it is not complete. At present there is only one set of lantern slides available, that is, on the British Isles. If we had two more sets, one on the British Empire, and another to illustrate a trip around the world showing some of the most important places with their products, etc., we believe the course would be complete.
HYGIENE.
Examinations on the Hygiene Manual.
The usual shield competition was held among the schools in December, the papers being set by Dr. Pearse. There were 12 competing teams with 107 competitors. The Diocesan School was first. Four schools including Saiyingpun earned over 60% of marks. I must congratulate the Hollywood Road (Lower Grade) School on its success.
The whole of its top Classes were needed to form the team, which beat among others Queen's College. Queen's College did very badly, when the circumstances are fairly considered, including its very big field of selection. Yaumati should have done much better.
The reason given by the French Convent for their weakness in the subject this year is that it has only been studied since September. This is however no real explanation, since Hygiene is a compulsory subject. The Diocesan School (Girls) did not compete, which seems a pity. Kowloon School and Victoria School did not compete either, on the ground that they had not enough pupils who had been under instruction for the full year. I am of opinion that all Government and Grant Schools should compete, unless especially excused, even if only small teams can be sent in; and that any school intending to send in a reduced team should obtain sanction for so doing from myself at least a month before the date of examination. The following Table gives the details :—
Results of Hygiene Team Competition, 1909.
Position Name of School Marks obtained. Max. 700. No. of Competitors. Percentage Remarks 1st Diocesan Boys' 444 7 63.42 Showed the best results. 2nd Ellis Kadoorie 429 10 61.28 Fair, 3rd Belilios Public School 384 9 60.95 4th Saiyingpun 421 10 60.14 Fair. 5th St. Joseph's 410 10 58.57 Fair. 6th Anglo-Portuguese 160 4 57.11 7th Italian Convent 383 10 54.71 8th Hollywood Road 364 10 52.00 Fair. 9th Wantsai 341 10 48.71 Fair, 3 poor papers. 10th Queen's College 311 10 44.42 Poor, 2 fairly good papers. 11th St. Mary's 103 4 36.78 12th Yaumati 240 10 34.28 Very poor.