PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
6
Taking all things into consideration and realizing the fact that a certain form of teaching for a certain class of people is necessary, and that it would be useless to try and instruct Jamaica school children on English lines, I am of opinion that as the "Tropical Reader" is found a very useful means of instruction by the Board of Education, the easiest and most appropriate thing that one could do would be to adopt portions of Dr. Strachan's, Dr. Dickson's and the two English books to the needs of the schools here and add them to the "Tropical Reader which I see has already been adapted to Jamaica needs. Personally, were it possible for me to be of any assistance whatever to the Honourable Superintending Inspector of Schools, or to the Board of Education, either in suggesting co-operating with, in or revising any pamphlet, print or matter, with a view to carrying out the wishes of the Right Honour able the Secretary of State for the Colonies, I should be most happy to lend my services.
I see the name of a very well-known medical man among the members of the Board as he has already written one very popular little book, he, as he knows the conditions of the people so, well, might probably with ease adapt the "Tropical Reader" to what is required.
J. ERRINGTON KER, Superintending Medical Officer.
7
I think that the same object might be attained at much less cost and with equal efficiency if, instead of offering to the manager the grant suggested by the Com- mittee, Government offers to the teachers in aided schools, who have been through this course successfully, a bonus similar to that which is offered for drill in Clause 108 of the Code for aided schools. In the case of drill, satisfactory results have been obtained by this method at a very small cost to Government.
2. I therefore suggest that you should authorise me to inform managers of schools that a clause will appear in next year's Code by which teachers who have been through this course successfully will be able to earn a bonus of Rs. 10, by presenting the 4th and 5th Standards in Sanitation. A discretion should be left with the Inspector to recommend either the full bonus or half of it, in accordance with the quality of the work done. The cost of this will not exceed Rs. 500 in 1905, and no special provision need be made for it in the estimates; it can be paid from the sum voted for grants-in-aid of existing schools.
3. I shall be much obliged if you will let me have your decision at an early date, in order that I may communicate with managers early in June.
I am, &c.,
No. 3.
CEYLON.
The Honourable
J. HARWARD, Director of Public Instruction. R. B. STRICKLAND,
Inspector of Schools,
The Colonial Secretary.
For D. P. I.
Enclosure 2 in No. 3.
وا
(No. 250.) SIR,
GOVERNOR SIR H. A. BLAKE to MR. LYTTELTON. (Received July 17, 1905.)
The Queen's House, Colombo, Ceylon, June 27, 1905. IN continuation of my despatch, No. 420, of 18th October, 1904,* with reference to the teaching of Sanitation in aided schools, I have the honour to transmit, for your information, the enclosed copies of a letter from the Director of Public Instruction, and of the Colonial Secretary's reply, dated 20th June, 1905, approving the insertion of a clause in next year's Code, by which teachers who have been through the course of lectures in Sanitation at the Medical College, successfully, will be able to earn a bonus of Rs. 10, by presenting the 4th and 5th Standards in the subject, a discretion being left with the Inspector to recommend either the full bonus or half of it, accord- ing to the quality of the work done. The cost for 1905 is estimated at Rs. 500.
2. The Director of Public Instruction is of opinion that the offer of a small reward to the teachers is likely to prove more efficacious than the payment of an increased grant, basing his opinion on past experience in the teaching of school drill
Î have, &c.,
HENRY A. BLAKE,
SIR,
(No. 165.)
Colonial Secretary's Office, Colombo, June 20, 1905.
Teaching of Sanitation in Aided Schools.
WITH reference to your letter, No. 189, of 14th June, 1905, I am directed to approve the proposal made in paragraph 2 of your letter, No. 164, of 19th May, 1905, viz., to inform Managers of aided Vernacular Schools that a clause will appear in next year's Code by which teachers who have been through the proposed course of lectures in Sanitation at the Medical College successfully, will be able to earn a bonus of Rs. 10 by presenting the 4th and 5th Standards in the subject, a discretion being left with the Inspector to recommend either the full bonus or half of it, according to the quality of the work done, the cost to be charged to the vote for grants-in-aid of existing schools.
The Director of
Public Instruction.
Governor, &c.
23362
No. 4.
I am, &c.,
E. B. DENHAM,
For Colonial Secretary.
24978
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
(No. 164/c.)
SIR,
Enclosure 1 in No. 3.
Office of Public Instruction, Colombo, May 19, 1905. Sanitation in Aided Schools.
WITH reference to your letter, No. 275, of 10th October, 1904, I have the honour to inform you that the P.C.M.O. has arranged for a course of lectures to be given at the Medical College in August next. I shall be glad now to know whether the pro- posal made by the Committee, in the 5th paragraph of their report, that a grant should be attached to the subject of Sanitation in the 4th and 5th Standards has also received your approval. It will be, of course, a mere waste of money to hold the proposed course of lectures, unless it is connected with a scheme by which the teaching of Sanitation is actually encouraged and inspected in schools. At the same time,
* 37952; not printed.
(Circular.)
SIR,
MR. LYTTELTON to THE GOVERNORS, &c.†
Downing Street, August 26, 1905.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you a Précis of the despatches which have been received in reply to my predecessor's Circular despatch of the 7th of October, 1903, on the subject of the teaching of the rudiments of hygiene in the Schools of the tropical Colonies.
2. You will see that in some of the Colonies much good work has already been done and I am anxious that this important matter should be taken up generally throughout the tropical Colonies and placed, as far as possible, on a satisfactory basis.
3. The Governor of Ceylon rightly points out that if any good is to be done, the teaching should from the first be of a practical nature, that this can only be given by those who have themselves acquired a practical knowledge, and that the
• No. 1.
† Sent to the same Colonies, &c., as No. 1, and also to the East African Protectorates.