O 10
MANUAL INSTRUCTION,
46. To find a reason why manual instruction can hardly be said to exist in the schools of the Colony, appeal must be made to the difficulty of the Chinese written language. At the Vernacular Schools it is hard to keep the children long enough to ensure their being able to read and write. At the English Schools their English and Chinese Studies seem to demand all the time available. Nevertheless a few experiments have been made.
47. At the Ellis Kadoorie School certain Classes have taken up basket work. The carpentry Classes at the Kowloon School are in a satisfactory condition.
48. Cookery is taught very thoroughly at the Belilios School. It was also taught at the British Schools.
49. Inspired by what I saw of the excellent system of School Gardens to be found in the Philippines, I obtained the kind assistance of the District Officer and the Superintendent of the Botanical Department to cultivate an onion plot in connection with a Subsidised School at Tai Wai. The experiment is promising and may be the beginning of a large development: however it has not yet reached the report stage.
BOY SCOUTS AND GIRL GUIDES,
Annexes F. and G.
50. Both movements made good progress during the year.
VISIT OF H. R. H. THE PRINCE OF WALES,
51. The School Children of the Colony were honoured by an inspection by H. R. H. the Prince of Wales on April 7th, 1922.
52. They were formed up round three sides of the cricket field to the number of 1,565, 18 schools being represented. The Tsing Ming holidays unfortunately prevented a more complete gathering. His Royal Highness was graciously pleased to express to me his satisfaction at their general appearance.
53. In memory of the occasion portraits of the Prince were presented by the Entertainment Committee to the schools which took part in this Rally. His Royal Highness was so good as to sign one of these: it has been entrusted to the Kowloon School as the senior school for British children.
54. My thanks are due to Mr. A. R. Sutherland and Mr. J. Fletcher for their assistance in making the necessary arrangements.