No. 21.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The following Annual Report on the State of the Government Shools in Hongkong for the Year 1872, is published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Ilongkong, 10th February, 1873.
CECIL C. SMITH,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
No. 12.
HONGKONG, 3rd February, 1873.
SIR-I have the honour to forward to you the Annual Report on the Government Schools in this Colony and the Blue Book Returns for the year 1872.
2. The Tables which are appended give, in a succinct form, nearly all the information which it is necessary to supply on the state of the schools. Last year's Report contained a résumé of their history for the ten preceding years, and nothing has happened since then to necessitate its reconsideration.
3. Five new schools were added in the course of the year, and one was discontinued. This brings the number of schools now under Government supervision up to thirty. Four of the five obtained the usual grant-in-aid, and the fourth, which promises to be a successful one, was added to the Govern- ment Schools properly so called.
4. As regards the number of scholars, the rise for the year was considerable, the increase over the previous year being 188. A more encouraging feature connected with the schools is the increased regularity in the attendance. This, however, must not be judged of solely by the figures which are given, for the school rolls are not, in all cases, kept so carefully as they should be. This does not arise o much from a desire to mis-represent, as from a want of appreciation, on the part of some of the masters, of habits of strict accuracy. Nevertheless, making all due allowance for this fault, there can beno doubt that the regularity with which the children attend the schools is steadily increasing.
5. It is also evident that the people take more real interest in the schools than formerly. They Bill allow themselves to be too much the prey of needy school-masters, to the injury of the school ad of the peace of the village; but it is very seldom that the obstinacy, which used to be carried so Bur as to make them decline all education if not given on their own terms, is now long persisted in. The practice which has been strictly adhered to for some years of appointing no master until his com- Retence has been tested by examination has tended almost entirely to this result. The annual exami- pation of each school, too, supplies a criterion of the master's diligence which can be used against any
tempt to oust him, simply because the people would prefer a change.
6. Two of the schools gave rise to much annoyance. At Little Hongkong and Yau-mi Ti not month passed without some complaint, either by the villagers against the master, or by the master gainst the villagers. In the case of these schools, one of two things will have to be done. Either grant-in-aid must be withdrawn until Imrony is restored, or the schools must be taken entirely The latter is the way from local control, and be maintained solely at Government expense.
the
urse which should be taken with them. In any other way, the children will be neglected, and their well-being is of too great importance to be subordinated to the caprices of their parents.
7. The giving of grants-in-aid to certain schools, which at first gave promise of much good, is proving so beneficial a measure us was anticipated. Although it would be very difficult to give Roper proof for the assertion, there can be no doubt that, in many cases, the grant is the master's sole Mus of support. And this is not all; for out of this pittance he has to pay rent and other exactions. la one case where these were refused, the villagers approached the master with much cunning. They ked him for a loan of money, which it would require much charity to believe they ever intended to
repay.