131
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
31
Reference :-
mimmim.O..
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No. 85.
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
GOVERNOR SIR J. ANDERSON to THE EARL OF ELGIN.
(Received 2 May, 1908.)
(No. 140.) MY LORD,
Government House, Singapore, 9 April, 1908. WITH reference to the Circular despatches of the 26th August, 1905, and 28th March, 1907,* I have the honour to report that since my despatch, No. 226, of the 22nd May last,† 500 copies of a Malay translation of those portions of Dr. Kerr's primer which are of local application have been distributed to school teachers and students at the Malay College at Malacca.
2. The school reading book which Dr. Brooke had then in hand has been com- pleted by him, but unfortunately the printing has been delayed owing to the great and exceptional demands on the stock of type in the printing office in connection especially with the printing of the Courts Ordinance and Civil Procedure Code and the new forms required in consequence of the coming into operation of these Ordi- nances and the very voluminous evidence taken by the Opium Commission.
3. The Director of Education states that for want of this book he is unable to report that. any special instruction in hygiene was given during 1907. It is hoped, however, that the book will be ready this month and steps will then be taken to introduce it as a subject for instruction in the schools throughout the Colony.
I have, &c.,
29900
(Circular.)
SIR,
No. 87.
THE EARL OF CREWE to THE GOVERNORS, &c.*
Downing Street, 26th August, 1908. I HAVE the honour to transmit to you a précis of the reports which have been received from the Crown Colonies and Protectorates, in reply to Lord Elgin's circular despatch of the 28th of March, 1907,† regarding the teaching of the rudi- ments of hygiene in the schools of those countries.
2. I am in entire accord with my predecessors in desiring that this important form of instruction should be actively proceeded with, and I have noted with satis- faction the efforts which are being made to carry out the wishes of this department in the matter.
3. I am glad to find that the different Administrations are gradually obtaining text books which are suited to the local circumstances of each country, and are having them translated, where necessary, into the native languages, and also that a good beginning has been made with the supply of lantern slides for the purpose of illustrating the teaching.
4. I hope to learn that still further progress has been made during the past year, and I need scarcely assure you that you will receive my hearty support in any steps which you may take to promote the success of this scheme.
I have, &c.,
CREWE.
JOHN ANDERSON.
885/
9 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
17928
No. 88.
LEEWARD ISLANDS.
GOVERNOR SIR E. B. SWEET-ESCOTT to THE EARL OF CREWE.
(No. 169.)
MY LORD,
(Received 18 May, 1908.)
Government House, Antigua, 27 April, 1908.
WITH reference to your Lordship's despatch marked Miscellaneous, of the Secretary of State, Circular, 28th May, 1903. Secretary of State, Circular, 7th October, 1903. Governor, 635, 31st December, 1903. Secretary of State, 219, 24th August, 1905. Secretary of State, Circular, 26th August, 1905. Governor, 267, 18th July, 1906.
Secretary of State, 171, 15th August, 1906, Secretary of State, General, 4th August, 1906. Governor, 424, 23rd October, 1906.
27th ultimo, I have the honour to report that, in accordance with the advice of the Executive Council of Antigua, at a meeting held on the 31st of January last, it has been decided that the consideration of the question of the further action which should be Secretary of State, Circular, 24th October, 1906.
taken respecting the teaching of the Secretary of State, Circular, 28th March, 1907. rudiments of hygiene in the element- Secretary of State, Circular, 28th October, 1907.
ary schools of this Colony, to which the despatches§ noted in the margin refer, should be postponed until the comple- tion by Mr. Martin, the Inspector of Schools, and Mr. Kirby, the Science Master at the Antigua Grammar School, of a text-book suitable to the requirements of the pupils who attend the primary schools.
2. If a text-book is to be of any use, it must be as simple as possible, and all technical terms and expressions must be avoided, and Mr. Martin and Mr. Kirby will keep this fact in view.
Nos. 4 and 51.
42088: not printed.
I have, &c.,
BICKHAM SWEET-ESCOTT,
Governor.
† No. 57.
§ Nos. 1, 4, 41, 51, and 74; the rest not printed.
Enclosure in No. 87.
PRÉCIS OF DESPATCHES WHICH HAVE BEEN RECEIVED IN REPLY TO THE CIRCULAR DESPATCH OF THE 28th MARCH, 1907.
Eastern.
CEYLON.
The course of lectures which was given to teachers in 1905 was sufficiently suc- cessful to justify the holding of a similar course in 1906, but some modifications were made in the syllabus. The course was held in Colombo from August 6th to August 25th. It was attended by 21 teachers from Government Schools and 18 teachers from Grant-in-Aid Schools. A Sub-Inspector of Schools was present throughout, who marked the attendance, acted as interpreter, and superintended the general management. The Director of Public Instruction was away from Colombo on furlough and can therefore not speak of these lectures from personal knowledge, but he is assured by medical officers and others that they were most successful, and that the teachers showed a great deal of intelligence and interest in the subject. It must be remembered that the teachers are, many of them, men who have received a good education in their own language, and some of them have suffi- cient acquaintance with native medicine to give them an interest in medical and sanitary questions. The portion of the course which dealt with malaria was followed with the closest attention. A Sinhalese translation of Mrs. Brander's Talks on Health, with some slight modifications, was made by the Christian Litera- ture Society, the Sinhalese terminology being revised by a member of the staff of the Government Training College. This has been distributed to the teachers of all Government schools, the present number of which is 597, in order to help them in giving the necessary explanations to the sanitary catechism which is taught in all the schools from the Fourth Standard upwards.
• To all non-responsible Government Colonies and Protectorates and the Governor-General of Australia (for Papua).
† No. 51.
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