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8. The first or highest class was examined in ten subjects,-Algebra, Arithmetic, Chemistry, Dictation, English Composition. Geography, Geometry, Granmar, Translation from Chinese into English, and Translation from English into Chinese. The total number of marks assigned to these subjects was 780, and the marks gained by the first six on the list were respectively 683, 669, 669, 655, 643, and 633. After these, mine had over 500, sic over 400, and four over 360 marks.
9. The other classes were examined on the same subjects,-Algebra, Chemistry, and Geometry excepted-these being confined, at present, exclusively to the senior class. The general result of the examinations, previously referred to, must suffice, in this Report, for indicating the way in which these classes passed.
10. The Chemistry class, after a full year's experience, can now be reported on with some confidence. The course for the year embraced the most important of the non-metallic elements. No text-book has as yet been used and it is a doubtful point whether one should be used, because the oral instruction given both ensures attention on the part of the class and is also a test of their knowledge of English, the only language which is spoken. The class has been conducted in this way. On Saturday, a lesson is given with experiments, On Monday, the boys bring in English an account of what they have heard and seen,--an exercise which serves the double purpose of fixing the lesson on their minds and of practising them in composition. In the course of the week, an hour is devoted to oral examination on the last, and a revisal of the preceding, subjects. There can be no hesitation in saying that this part of the school work is thoroughly enjoyed aid, if one may judge by the papers written at the examination, not unprofited by.
11. The three junior classes are now taught the elements of Music, but this has been too lately introduced to permit of any report on the progress made. One lesson of one hour a week is all that has yet been attempted, although it is very questionable if such short time gives either class or subject fair play. At the same time, it is impossible at the Central School, where a language has to be acquired, to give the same time to such subjects as is given in schools where only one language is. required of the scholars and that their mother-tongue.
12. Drawing will be commenced in the three senior classes as soon as the materials arrive from England. There will then be an extra subject for each of the English masters,-for the Head Master chemistry, for the Second Master drawing, and for the Third Master music. I need not say that these will be treated strictly as extra subjects. Nothing must be allowed to interfere with or, at least, to impede the learning of English.
13. The number of boys other than Chinese is gradually increasing and, in a few years, will necessitate another master and an additional class-room. There are now 5 English, 2 Portuguese. 2 Japanese, and 14 Indian boys. The number of half-caste boys, too, has lately increased consider- ably. With this difference, that they are of a livelier temperament, owing probably to a less restrained up-bringing, and that they can enunciate more easily and clearly than their Chinese school. fellows, due no doubt to their being accustomed from their infancy to the jargon which passes for English here, there is not much to distinguish them from those of purely Chinese descent. If any thing, they are rather worse to manage, but when one considers the extreme docility of Chinese boy's this trait scarcely deserves a passing notice. A school of Chinese boys is a disciplinarian's paradise.
14. In the course of the year, 95 boys left school. Of these, 40 are in business, some as inter- preters, some as clerks, some as assistant compradores, some as assistants in Chinese shope, some as brokers, printers, and so on. Some have gone to California, some to Japan, others to Tientsin, Shanghai, Foochow, Canton, Macao, Saigon, Annam, and Bombay, while 25 remain in Hongkong. Of the remainder, 8 left on account of sickness, 18 left the Colony along with their parents, 14 were removed from the roll principally for irregularities, 6 went to Chinese schools, 6 left for causes un- Why the last should have considered himself known, 1 was poor, I died, and I was married. excused it is difficult to say, for nearly all in the first class and many of those in the second are married.
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15. There is nothing special to report in connection with the Chinese classes. They are three in number and under three very competent musters. The same time is devoted to Chinese as to English, that is, four hours a day to each. Every effort is made, by weekly revisals and occasional examinations, to ensure as much attention to this part of the work as to that of the English classes; and this is the more necessary, as a good deal of latent opposition has to be encountered in the teaching of Chinese in the school. The people have very deeply rooted notions of their own as to the selection of masters and the number of scholars whom one master should teach; and teaching by classes, while admitted to be very good in the teaching of English is declared to be altogether unsuitable for the teaching of Chinese. Patience and perseverance will enable the school to outlive these prejudices.
16. The Preparatory Class, which was established to secure a certain knowledge of both Eng lish and Chinese before filmission into the regular classes, has given proof of the usefulness which was expected of it. The master-ship of this class is given as a reward to one of the best scholars taught in the school. Under him, the boys learn the elements of reading, writing, and arithmetic, as a preparation for the English classes; and, under one of the Chinese masters, who take this class iteriately, they are prepared for the Chinese classes.
299
150
17. The school-fees for the year amounted to $1,701.65, of which the sum of $1,460.75 was paid into the Treasury, and $240.90, being the fees paid by the Preparatory Class, went to the pay. ment of the teacher of that class.
18. There only remains, under this division, to neknowledge, on behalf of the school in general and of successful scholars in particular, the liberality of the Honourable C. C. SMITH, Dr. MURRAY, Mr. HAYLLAR, Mr. GERRARD, Mr. Wai Kwong, and Mr. Kwok CuɛUNG, who added so largely to the Prize Fund. While there is, no doubt, a good deal of hard work on the part of the boys, due to a desire for respectable and lucrative employment, the incentive to diligence produced by the valuable prizes which are given annually is of the most marked character. It is gratifying to be able to state that, next year, the list of donors will be considerably increased. These and others of the community would add greatly to their kindness by coming and making personal experience of what the boys can or cannot do. It is inatter of regret that while so many give liberally, so few care to come and judge of the school for themselves. This is not said from any desire to parade the school, than which nothing could be more distasteful, but it is not unnatural to wish that the public knew exactly what an institution is worth which needs so large a sum of the public money for its support.
19. The Village School, which are free schools supported entirely by Government, are twelve in number. They stand in the following order of efficiency, as tested by an examination of each school.
1. Stanley.
5. Sai-ying Pún, (Hak-ka.)
2. Sai-ying Pún, (Pún-tí.) 3. Girls School. 4. Bowrington.
6. Welister's Crescent.
7. Tang-lung Chan, (Pún-ti.) 8. Aberdeen.
9. West End,
10. Tung-hung Chau, (Ilak-ka. ) 11. Wong nai Chung.
12. Shiu-ki Wän.
20. These, as has been said in previous Reports, are Chinese schools, pure and simple. Chinese books alone are used and the mode of instruction is such as would be found in any native village school in China. But, this has been too often noticed to need repetition.
21. The great aim in the supervision of these schools is to see that what is taught is taught me. thodically and well, that regularity, and especially punctuality, be attended to, and that cleanliness be not forgotten. It would perhaps be difficult to fix any précise amount of improvement from one year to another; but, on looking back over the last nine years, evidences of progress are not wanting. The Chinese are very slow to appreciate anything which is not precisely as they are accustomed to it, and in nothing is their conservatism so apparent as in education. Foreigners may know some- thing of other matters, especially if they have reference to trade, but, in the matter of "education, the dullest villager and the most ignorant boat-woman loudly proclaim their superiority, without the slightest suspicion of its being questioned. They know exactly what books their children are to read, and when and how they are to be read, the ophtion of all foreigners to the contrary notwithstanding. 22. The school buildings are good and suitable, except those at Bowrington and Stanley. I had hoped to see these two reappear on the Estimates. A new school-house at Stanley is greatly needed, but one at Bowrington is an absolute necessity, as has been pointed out on previous occasions. The number of scholars taught at the school, during the year, was 92. The highest number on the roil, on any one month, was 76, the lowest 56, and 63 was the average for the year. Yet this large number has to be accommodated in the upper floor of a small, low-roofed, ill-ventilated, Chinese Louse. I cannot forego this opportunity of, once more, calling the attention of the Government, to the necessity of proceeding with the erection of the proposed school-house at Bowrington.
23. Three masters died in the course of the year,—those at Shu-ki Wán, at the Hak-ka school at Tang-lung Chau, and at the Pún-ti school at Sai-ying P'ún. The last had been a Government school-master for upwards of ten years and had always a very good school. There was one dismissal, that of the master at Shán-ki Wan, the predecessor of the one that died. This has always been a wretched school as regards attendance, It was thought advisable, as the Hak-kas showed so little appreciation of it, to allow the Pún-tis a chance, but last year's experience does not inspire much confidence as to the benefit of the change. The schools at Aberdeen and Wong-nni Ch'ung are con- tinual sources of disappointment, but they are good schools when compared with the one at Sháu-ki Wán.
21. The Pún-ti school at Tang-lung Chan, after being for many years at the head of the Village Schools, has lately been very unfortunate. For situation, the healthiest, apparently, of all the schools, no fewer than three masters have died within the short period since the new school was opened. Other inasters of the school have had long periods of serious illness, and several of the scholars have died. As death after death occurs, the superstitious fears of the children ure increased and the with- drawals become more and more numerous. There is no apparent remedy for this, but a change for the better is greatly desiderated.
25. The Schools in receipt of Grants-in-aid are now 11 in number. Five were added during the year.
These are the schools at Shek Slun, Hok Ün, Yau-ma Tī, Ma-t'au Ch'ung, and the Hak- ka School at To-kwa Wún. The whole may be arranged in the following order:——
1. Apli Chau.
5. Ma-thu Chung.
3. To-kwa Wan, (Bak-ka)
7. Yau-ma Ti.
2. Ma-t'au Ta'ün.
4. Little Hongkong.
6. Mong Kok.
8. llot l'n.
10. T'o-kwa Wán
9. Hung Hom.
11. Shek Shán.