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REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PRO KONG I ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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The Committee for superintending the Government Schools in the Island of Hongkong, in presenting to His Excellency the Governor their Report for the year 1858, have but few facts of any special interest on which it is necessary to make any lengthened remarks.
The aggregate number of Scholars attending in the Schools has, during the past year, increased from about 420 to 675, in the five months of January to May 1858 inclusive.
The number of Schools is fifteen as in 1857; and the Inspector Rev. W. Lobscheid has made application for permission to establish three additional Schools in the present current year, all of which are intended to promote the instruction of the Hakha population, who emigrate from their homes on the mainland, and dwell for longer or shorter periods in Hongkong. One of these Schools is proposed to be near the Mahomedan Mosque in Victoria; another at the Stone-cutters' Village to the West of the City; and the third is designed for the Village of Tung-lung-chow near East Point. There are three Hakha Schools, in the Villages of Bai-wan, Shaou-ke-wan, and Tai-tam-tuk, included in the fifteen Schools already established.
During the summer months of the South-West monsoon, the fishing season greatly diminishes the number of Scholars, especially in the villages of Shik-pai-wan, (Aberdeen,) Tung-lung-chow, and in a less degree at Shik-ow. This, together with the poverty of the parents, is a great difficulty in the successful promotion of Education.
The severe epidemic anl inortality at Aberdeen and other parts of the Island during the past year, served to break up many Native families, and seriously affected the Government Schools The threatening edicts of the Mindarins, and the consequent exodus of a large part of the Native population of Hongkong, still further served to thin the attendance of the Scholars. The Chinese have, however, now generally returned; and under Mr Lobscheid's efficient Inspectorship, market improvement has taken place. The Committee notice especially the large attendance of 80 pupils in the School at Chung-wan (Central Victoria), and the presence of a few girls at some of the Schools.
The course of instruction pursuel is the general routine of Native Chinese books, with an endeavour to impart at the same time the meaning of the sentences or words more fully than is usual in purely Native systems of teaching at School.
The Pupils learn also portions of the New Testament in Chinese. The meaning is explained, and passages are committed to memory. The first rudiments of spelling and reading English are also taught in the larger schools; and a few facts of Geography are learnt by their finding places on European Maps.
There is the continued difficulty in raising the moral and intellectual tone of the Native teachers. Being dependent on their neighbours, anl often having opportunities of adding to their income by drawing un petitious and legal documents, they are frequently in danger of having their attention absorbed in the law-suite and alterca'ions of the Villagers; and to watch over this source of inconvenience a close eversight is required. They are represented by the Inspector, however, as willing and docle; and as not excluding the hope of eventually being elevated and improved.
The Committee fel, that it is no part of their province in the establishment of Government Schools, to discourage or to supersele private Native Schools. Their aim and endeavour is rather to raise the e lucational standari, and not to place themselves in antagonism to voluntary efforts to provide for themselves a good education for their children on the part of the Chinese population.
It is, however, a natural expectation on the part of the Committee, that the system of Government Free Schools, while it confers the boon of education on those who cannot afford to pay for it, will also, as an inevitable result, if they are curried on by efficient Chinese Teachers, and superintended and visite frequently by a European Inspector, with the additional advantage of junior Chinese Teachers in some of the Schools, able to impart the first elements of English reading, tend gradually to attract Chinese Children from private Schools, and to diminish the prospect of any but the most efficient Chinese Teachers being able to support themselyos by their independent efforts.
With respect to the expense of the Schools, the Committee have to observe, that during the past year special causes have operated to retard the increase in the attendance of Scholars; and that in ordinary years the number of Pupils may be expected in future to amount to upwards of 1,000 boys. The sum of £1,500 granted by the Colonial Government for the ensuing year, will thus provide education for each Day-Scholar, at the rate of £1 to £1 10.-a cost not unreasonably large amid the necessary expenses of European Inspectorship and the scattered position of the Schools.
With the view of rendering their supervision more complete, the Committee hare requested Mr Lobscheid to furnish them with ■ Monthly Journal of his visits; and hope to arrange frequent periods of individual visits from one or another of their number to the outlying Schools, which most need the moral support of such countenance from Europeans,
Victoria, Hongkong, 20th January, 1859
G. VICTORIA.
W. R. BEACH.
JOHN CHALMERS. JOHN SOARTH.
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