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The girls have started a hockey club. The school was twice visited by the Government Medical Officer, who comments adversely on the condition of the children's teeth. Otherwise their health has been good.
6. Discipline is good, and the results of an examination held in July were satisfactory. A pleasing testimony of the work done in the school is afforded by the mother of three ex-pupils. Writing from Melbourne she states that her children are now attending two of the best Public Schools in Australia; all were classed with others of about their own age, and have done very well indeed, especially in Scripture, French and Drawing. The letter concludes "We are very grateful to Mrs. Main for the interest she took in our little family while she had them under her care—a term of seven years—which has enabled them to take such good places here".
7. Victoria British School.—The Head Master, Mr. Sutherland, was given a commission in the Army in November. His place was taken by Mr. Barlow. The Staff has been considerably strengthened. It is satisfactory to note that the two Student Teachers employed received their entire education at a Departmental (Kowloon) School.
8. Extracts from the report of the Head Master are given below:
"The apparatus is adequate, and in fairly good condition. The playing field is in as good a condition as can be expected, but it is very difficult to keep the Chinese of the neighbourhood from trespassing, to the detriment of the fence and trees. The School library contains over 200 books—an increase of nearly 100 since last year. It is well patronized, by girls as well as by boys. The discipline is very good.
"Health.—In April printed extracts from the Medical Officer's Report were sent to parents, calling attention to the condition of the teeth of some of the children, and to the importance of giving them immediate dental attention. At more recent inspections he regrets to find in some cases little or no notice has been taken of the matter. The eyesight of the children is good. Recommendations made regarding the sanitary conditions of the School have been carried out to the satisfaction of the Medical Officer.
"Studies. The result of the Annual Examination held in July were satisfactory. The examination held in December showed a general improvement in the work, especially on the girls' side. Most of the boys in the Upper School are not yet up to the mark, and require systematic drilling in the elementary subjects, Arithmetic, Writing, Spelling, Geography, History, Grammar, Geometry and Algebra being rather weak. Composition and Literature were good, although some of the ideas were crudely expressed. The Scripture paper evidently was too much for most of the boys. Singing has been carefully taught.
"Athletics. The children make fair use of the playing-field on their particular days, the boys playing Football and the girls Hockey. More interest ought to be taken in the latter game. The boys of 10 years and over are members of the Cadet Corps."
All