75
74
instruction in hygiene, I have the honour to inform you that Dr. Hood has held an examination on this subject in four of the principal schools in Freetown. One hundred and five pupils were examined, and out of this number exactly 30 obtained 40 per cent. of the number of marks obtainable. Six of the pupils passed a perfectly satisfactory examination as the marks they obtained ranged from 70 per cent. to 80 per cent. Dr. Hood reports that the results are encouraging, and show that some of the pupils have got a grasp of the subject that should prove useful to them in after life. The teachers received their instruction from lectures given by Dr. Hood, whose work both as regards the lectures and the examination, deserves to be brought to your notice.
2. The current estimates provide £179 for the encouragement of the study of hygiene and sanitation, and I propose that the teachers should receive a bonus or grant of £2 for each pupil instructed who succeeded in obtaining 40 per cent. of marks. The expenditure involved amounts to £60. In addition to this amount I propose granting a prize of £3, £2, and £1 respectively to the three pupils who pass the most successful examination.
739
No. 44.
BARBADOS.
I have, &c.,
L. PROBYN,
Governor.
GOVERNOR SIR G. T. CARTER to THE EARL OF ELGIN.
.(No. 176.) MY LORD,
(Received January 7, 1907.)
Government House, December 12, 1906.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's circular despatch of the 24th of October* last drawing my attention to a work by Dr. W. T. Prout, Principal Medical Officer of Sierra Leone, entitled "Lessons on Elementary Hygiene and Sanitation with special reference to the Tropics."
2. The copy of the work transmitted to me with your Lordship's despatch has been under the consideration of the Board of Education, and the Board thinks so highly of it that it has been decided to adopt it as a handbook for the use of the teachers and children of the higher standards in the elementary schools, and to abandon the intention to prepare such a text-book for use in this Colony which the Board had in contemplation in connection with Mr. Lyttelton's circular despatch of the 28th of August, 1905.†
I have, &c.,
3548
and Temperance" (Brodribb and Pym), a work on the same subject, which is already in use, is more adapted to local conditions and educational standards.
3738
(No. 1.)
No. 46.
BRITISH GUIANA.
I have, &o.,
W. GREY-WILSON,
Governor.
GOVERNOR SIR, F. M. HODGSON to THE EARL OF ELGIN.
(Received January 30, 1907.)
MY LORD,
Government House, Georgetown, Demerara, January 1, 1907. In accordance with the direction given in the last paragraph of the circular despatch, dated the 26th August, 1905,* I have the honour to report that instruction in the rudiments of hygiene is being given in the elementary schools to all children in Standards IV., V., and VI. The books in use are (1) "Outline scheme for teaching hygiene and temperance" issued by the English Board of Education; (2) Chapter on Health in Book II. of Blackie's Tropical Readers; and (3) Dr. Dickson's short treatise on Malaria. To these will shortly be added Professor Boyce's pamphlet on "The Prevention of Yellow Fever," and "Mosquitos and suggestions for their extermi- nation," printed for the use of the General Board of Health of Bermuda. Both the Inspector of Schools and the Surgeon-General, whom I have consulted, consider that ample provision has been made by the Government for the teaching of hygiene, and that no further handbooks than those enumerated should be placed in the hands of teachers at present.
2. As regards the work done in the schools, the Inspector reports that on the whole the results of the examinations which have been held this year are satisfactory. I beg leave to refer to the remarks made by the Inspector of Schools under the head of "Hygiene" at page 14 of the last report on the work of the Education Depart- ment, which was sent to your Lordship in despatch No. 311, dated the 10th September, 1906.†
3. I have the honour to add that as soon as I found that the Inspector of Schools was interpreting the Education Code as making instruction in elementary hygiene optional in the case of boys, I directed that it was not to be so regarded, and in future all boys in Standards IV., V., and VI. will be presented for examination: at the annual school inspections.
I have, &c.,
G. T. CARTER,
Governor,
435
F. M. HODGSON
No. 45.
BAHAMAS.
GOVERNOR SIR W. GREY-WILSON to THE EARL OF ELGIN,
(No. 8.) MY LORD,
(Received January 29, 1907.)
Government House, Nassau, January 15, 1907.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your circular despatch of the 24th October last transmitting a copy of Dr. Prout's "Lessons on Elementary Hygiene and Sanitation with special reference to the Tropics."
2 The Inspector of Schools advises me that the work is somewhat too advanced to suit the standard of education in this Colony, and that "The Manual of Health
• Not printed.
† No. 4.
SIR,
No. 47.
SIERRA LEONE.
THE EARL OF ELGIN to ACTING GOVERNOR HADDON SMITH. (No. 67.)
Downing Street, February 15, 1907.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Probyn's despatch, No. 544, of the 20th of December.‡ and to inform you that I approve of his proposals for the grant of bonuses and prizes in connection with the teaching of hygiene in Freetown schools.
• No. 4.
20098
† 36209: not printed.
↑ No. 43.
K ?
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
mimimmim.O. 885
9 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
1