0 18
of the better schools have degenerated for various reasons, and there are still 69 undesirable ones left. 14 more will be struck off the list in the course of the next few weeks. Of the remaining 197 Private Day Schools very few are thoroughly efficient.
"Mr. Shin Yan-wai died during the summer after 10 years' service in this Department, and his place as sub-inspector was filled in September by Mr. Lau Shuk-chong.'
"
58. The Inspector might have pointed out that the unsatisfactory schools have decreased from 148 in 1913; that is, by nearly a half in two years.
SUBSIDISED SCHOOLS. - NEW TERRITORIES.
59. The Inspector of Vernacular Schools reports:-
"Of the 50 subsidised schools in the New Territories four were struck off the list at the end of the Chinese Year, viz., the schools at Pan Chung, Shuen Wan, Lung Yuek-tau, and Hang Hau. In place of these, four schools were subsidised in 1915 at Taipo Market, Kam Tin, Shing Mun, and Chan Tau.
"The Teachers from Fuk Hing-lei, To Shek, Lung Kun-tan, and Tai Lam-chung were not to be found when the sub-inspector visited those places, and as they had given no notification of their intention to go elsewhere, preparations had not been made to replace them. As the New Year holidays last till about the beginning of March, and it takes more than two months to go the round of the schools, it is not till nearly the end of May that it is known definitely how many teachers have disappeared in this way. Another school in the Pat Heung district, Au Tau, was placed on the list from the beginning of June, making the total number of schools subsidised this year 17. The number of pupils is 1,094 and the average attendance 946. The Girls' School at Sheung Shui, the only Girls' School in the New Territories, has deteriorated this year.
"The general level of teaching in the other schools has remained about the same, though two or three teachers in the more old-fashioned schools have made a start with Geography and Arithmetic. The school at Wong Toi-shan proved unsatisfactory, and has been struck off the list from the end of December.
"I have personally visited each school except Yeung Sui-hang, Castle Peak, where the teacher having been kidnapped early in September, the scholars are having a prolonged holiday. I have not, however, found school actually being held in every case.
It is very hard to control these out-lying schools, and a surprise visit shows that the teachers do not always remain on the premises. In such cases the teacher has had to forfeit his subsidy for the month unless a reasonable excuse was forthcoming.
The teacher at Wong Chau has given notice that he will have to go elsewhere as, two pupils having died of fever during the year, he is regarded by the superstition of the villagers as a bird of ill omen. The best schools are in Au Tau district, and Mr. Wong Pak-kau of Kam Tin, being particularly anxious to get a good teacher, guaranteed him a better salary than the ordinary. As he had to meet considerable expenses in establishing premises and equipment for the school he was granted payment of $100 out of the surplus of last year's vote.
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