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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON]
23
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference -
TLC.O. 133
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280-
His Excellency the Goverzor has signified his intention of extending the course of study by the introduction of Lectures on the simpler elements of Science, Chemistry, Electricity, and other branches of Natural Philosophy. I trust that, at first, only very moderate expectations will be entertained of their success. Considerable dithenlty must attend the communication of a knowledge of these abjects through the medium of a language in which the scholars are but in their first stages of advancement, and for the ordinary nomenclature of which there exist, as yet, no equivalents in Chinese. To this must be adled the fact already referred to that the boys leave school by far too sarly for acquiring a taste for such studies. It must not be supposed that I am throwing difficulties in the way or attempting to exaggerate those that confessedly exist. In every school, where it is possible, more attention should be given to such subjects than is generally done, and the Central School should certainly not be content to remain in ignorance of such branches of knowledge considering the advantages that would arise from their diffusion. I have thought it right, however, in saking reference to the proposal to moderate as far as possible any undue expectations of succESS. I hope that, at first, the amusement to be derived from the Lectures will be considered as not the least essential reason for their introduction, and all that it is possible to do shall be done to make then, in time, pro- fitable sources of instruction as well.
Would the Revenue of the Colony permit of it I would recommend most strongly the appointment of another English Master not only for reasons already given but for the abiitional one that a class could then be formed of boys whose parents are able to pay a higher scale of foes for a biglier grade of instruction than can be given under present circumstances. There are several boys now in the school who coull advance to Algebra, Geometry, and kindred studies could it be found possible to devote time to them, but the time thus spent would have to be taken froin mure elementary subjects to the detriment of the present average proficiency of the school. For these reasons I cannot hold out hopes of much higher than present resuks so long as present circumstances remaia as they are.
I am glad that it has at last been decided that the school is to be no longer exclusively confined to the Chinese, an this will be the first step to a me general extension of education to other and equally deserving portions of the community. How the amalgaonition of the different races in one school will be found to succeed if advantage of the privilege is taken to any great extent no one can at present undertake to say, It will not be without difficulties, perhaps serims ones, but these mist be encountere aut only for the sake of many children in the Colony who are without the means of instruction and who, unlike their Chinese neighbours, would be very glad to avail themselves of such advantages, but also for the sake of the repu- tation of the Government whose duty as well as interest it is to dispense its gifts with perfect impartiality. I am only afraid that when the announce.nent has been minile public the alacrity with which it will be responded to may be attended with serious embarrassment. That it will lead ultimately to the establishment of another school, both from the number of applica tions and from differences that will be found necessary in the system of teaching, I do not think there can be a doubt;" and, that the public education of the Colony should tend to this result, all its well wishers must be gratified to find.
I have not yet been able to get the Chinese department into the satisfactory state in which I could wish to see it. The ianbility of the Masters to comprehend a system of teaching that differs from their own, nl, it may be, their tacit opposition to any change that is proposed, from their knowledge of my comparative ignorance of what a Chinese education really b doubtless go far to retard the efficiency of this part of the work. Improvement is appearing although slowly, and it is to be hoped that ere long this duty will be not less carefully performed than the others. There seem to be grave doubts in the minds of many as to the propriety or necessity of devoting the half of the boys' time to the study of their own language. For myself I have none. I hold it to be an axiom that a boy cannot be taught a foreign language without a knowledge of his own, unless, indeed, he is sent to the country where the language is spoken, and that bis progress is the one will be in proportion to his attainments in the other. Chinese is not studied at the Central School so much for the sake of making the boys acquainted with what their sages have written as that they may master as far as possible the language as a language, in the investigation of its elements, and in the construction of its parts. I know of no more humiliating spectacle than to see boys, as we frequently do in Hongkong, who know English much better than they do Chinese, who entirely neglect their own language when they begin to learn the other, and who when asked for the translation of a letter or a petition fail to render it intelligibly. If there is anything which ought to be aimed at in connexion with the School it is that this disgrace shall not attach to it.
籍
The payment of fees has not proved the slightest drawback to the school. The sum paid into the Treasury during lasti year amounted to $1,231.97. I had it in contemplation to propose the mising of the fee in the Lower School this year, but, on consideration, I think it would be advisable, in the present rather unsettled state of the minds of the Chinese, to make no change for at least six months. As a rule, the parents of the bars are not in very prosperous circumstances, and hener any additional tax on their resources would not be likely to be well received. As soon, however, as trade revives among the Chinese and the Colony regains its previous status I shall propose the increasing of the fee. To do so in the meantime would be highly impolitic, and this conclusion has not been arrived at without consideration and enquiry,
I think it but right in concluding this part of my Report to take the opportunity of recording my sense of the obligations under which the school lies to C. C. Smith, Esquire, Registrar General, for the handsome contribution be put into my bands in order to increase the Prize Fund. In the present, comparatively speaking, infant state of the school any encouragement of this nature is invaluable, and I need scarcely say that I wish it were more common.
THE VILLAGE Schools.
I shall not enter, at any length, into this part of my Report as, on consideration, I find that it would involve the repetition of a great deal of what was stated last year. An attempt was then made to show what these schools are, how they are conducted, and the nature of the instruction of which they are made the vehicle. In all these respects they continue as they were. They are simply schools where the villagers can obtain for their children, free of all cost, such an education as would be given to them is any native school in China, and, although this may be very barren of what we consider as the necessary elements of any education that is worth the name, it is not to be supposed that it is useless. It is founded on principles which are strictly moral, which have minute reference to all the relations of life, and which have sustained, from centaries befixe Europe was civilized to the present day, the whole fabric of Chinese polity and manners. It, at least, deserves to be maintained until the Colony is in a position to substitute something better in its stead. This is not intended as a defence of a Chines education but merely a statement of the grounds on which the Government bases its present relations with these schools.
I have, in conclusion, to refer you to the following Tables for all statistical information.-I have the honour to be, Eis, Your most obedient Servant,
FREDERICK STEWART,
Head Master and Inspector.
1. Aberdeen
2. Bowrington
3. Central School.
4. Girls' School.............
6. Mosque
Stanley...
281
142
Numnuns and Attendance in the Gorerament Schools during 1868.
Maximam Minimum Maximum Minimu Enrolment. Enrolment. Attendance. Attendanos.
18
14
16
34
221
200
195
12
-8-85....8*88.
10
7. Tang-lung-chau (Hakka)
8. Tang-lung-chau (Punti)'
9. Webster's Crescent..
10. West End..
11. West Point (Iakkn).
12 West Point (Punti)
13. Wong-nai-chung
378÷88=6891*88
34
13
16
435
573
$37
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT of Noxners and Attesdauer in de Government Schools før 1862, 1863, 1864, 1885, 1805.
1. Aberdeen
2. Bowrington *******.
3. Central School
4. Girls' School..
5. Little Hongkong
6. Mahumetan Mosque... *7. Gaj-wan ...****** *8. Abek-...
9. Shan-ki-wan................ 10. Stanley.........................
11. Tang-lung-chau(flakka)
12. Tang-lung-chau{Punti) *13. Tal-lam-tuk,
14. Webster's Crescent..................
16. West Point (Hakka).............
17. West Point (Panti) .....
18. Wong-nal-chung ..........
1802.
1805.
1800.
Average Återige Average Average Averag
Average
Average
Average
Atten-
No.
Enrolled.
dance. Enrolled.
No. Earolled.
Atten- dance.
Atten-
Average Average
Atten-
Enrolled,
dasce. Forofled.
dance.
24
16
10
17
16
101
181
20
****====** 18
===== 182
16
140
24
30
495
288 1 1 1 1898 189 1998
17
100
34
Fངདྡྷེ རཿསྐཎྜa 1ངྐ111aསྐa 1RR 1ཅནཀླི
228121 122 123 12
4 12 11 1228 1882|3
41
35
21
15
24
655
424
400
614
425
• Schools marked with an asterisk have been discontinued.
SUMMART of ENROLMENT and Artendance.
1802.
1883.
1864
1865.
1866.
Maximum No. Enrolled
733
535
602
597
829
Maximum Attendance.
021
460
417
$35
573
Minimum No. Enrolled
505
414
434
418
435
Minimum Attendance ..
209
301
324
330
337
The Honorable W, T. MERCER, Esq.,
Colonial Secretary, ge., J., St.