CO885-9 — Page 564

194

can do so by his knowledge of the qualifications of his pupils. If this is done, the examiners will be saved the necessity of wading through a number of papers which are not nearly good enough to have any chance of winning a prize.

One important school was not represented in the team competition, apparently as a protest against a decision that schools that promote their pupils at midsummer should not be given some compensating advantage. It is obvious that an advantage is gained by those schools which, promoting at Christmas, have their pupils in Standard V. for a whole year prior to the examination. But no remedy suggested itself which was not overcumbrous, or likely to introduce further anomalies. That no overwhelming hardship is caused by the present system is proved by the fact that under it the Italian Convent and the Anglo-Portuguese School came out so well.

In addition to the masters referred to under the first heading of the report as having passed Stage I. of the South Kensington Hygiene Examination and as having entered for the Royal Sanitary Institute Examination for Teachers, four of the masters of Queen's College, the Head Master of the Victoria British School, and three masters of the Diocesan Boys' School hold good English certificates in hygiene-or physiology. To meet the request of the ministers of the Protestant Churches that instruction as to the evil effects of opium smoking should be given in the Hong Kong schools, the Governor is having paragraphs on this subject and on the use of alcohol added to the hygiene text-book.

195

SOUTHERN RHODESIA.

The State-aided schools in Rhodesia now include in their regular curriculum the teaching of tropical hygiene. The teachers have been instructed to give regular lessons on this subject to such children as are capable of appreciating them. The basis of the lessons is the paragraphs on the mosquito in Hodge's Nature Study and Life, and the pamphlet by Doctor Strachan, the Chief Medical Officer at Lagos, entitled "A Course of Simple Lectures on Elementary Hygiene."

SWAZILAND.

It is considered that the time has not yet arrived for the profitable teaching of hygiene in Swaziland even by the use of lantern slides.

NORTH-WESTERN RHODESIA.

No progress has yet been made, and, under the present conditions of the country, no steps can be taken in the matter. It will not, however, be lost sight of when regular schools are established at Livingstone and Sesheke.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

The Governor reports that since the lectures referred to in his despatch of 15th October, 1906, an account of which is embodied in the précis accompanying the circular despatch of 28th March, 1907, there has been little time for any further advance to be shown in the teaching of hygiene.

A school reading book has been prepared by Dr. Brooke, the Port Health Officer, on the same lines as his lectures, and will, the Governor hopes, shortly be introduced into the schools throughout the Colony.

The portions of Dr. T. S. Kerr's primer mentioned in the circular which relate to the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States have been translated into Malay, and distributed to school teachers and students at the Malay College at Malacca. The Director of Education is of opinion that it would not be advisable to attempt to teach the subject directly in Malay schools, but it is very desirable that all the Malay teachers should be enabled to acquire some knowledge of the subject.

MAURITIUS.

A sum of Rs. 1,500 has been voted for the purchase of books and diagrams, and the payment of a fee to the lecturer in connection with the teaching of hygiene and sanitation. Steps are being taken to prepare a suitable course of lectures.

SEYCHELLES.

The Chief Medical Officer has arranged for a course of lectures. Should slides be necessary, the Colony will be glad to avail itself of the offer contained in the circular of the 28th of March, 1907.

West Africa.

GAMBIA.

The Inspector of Schools regrets to report that the progress of the teaching of hygiene in the schools during the year 1906 cannot be regarded as very great, but in the Wesleyan and Roman Catholic schools, which between them form the vast majority of pupils, a beginning, at any rate, was made.

In the Anglican and Mohammedan Schools no instruction was given, and it cannot be said that any progress was made.

In the Roman Catholic Schools, though hygiene was not taught as a class subject, yet the simple rules drawn up by the Committee formed in the previous year to consider the teaching of hygiene were carefully and repeatedly taught and drilled into " the children; and special attention was given to see that the teachers knew, understood, and carried out the rules.

The results may be said to be satisfactory, for it is reported that an appreciable improvement is noticeable in the health and cleanliness of the children, and in particular in freedom from jiggers.

In addition to the teaching of these rules, Dr. Prout's "Lessons on Elementary Hygiene and Sanitation was put into the hands of the manager of these schools, and he from time to time used it as a lecture book for the higher standards.

At the Wesleyan Schools a special time once a week was set apart for the teaching of hygiene, and Dr. Prout's work was used as the text book; not very advanced progress can be reported, but, at any rate, a beginning was made.

At the Technical School no special time was set aside for the teaching of hygiene, but no opportunity was lost of impressing on the boys the necessity of cleanliness and attention to health.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

885 /

South Africa.

ST. HELENA.

Simple hygiene is taught in the Government schools. The Governor states that he fully recognises the importance of the subject, and has always done his best to encourage instruction in it.

GOLD COAST.

Elementary hygiene and sanitation have formed one of the subjects taught · in all the Government and assisted schools in the Colony during the year 1906. The text book in use has been a series of twelve lectures, originally delivered by Dr. M. S. Deacon to the Government School teachers. The results of the teaching have not yet been tested by examination, but at the next annual inspection of the schools, this subject will be taken. Questions, based on Mrs. Deacon's text-book, were set at the examination of teachers for certificates which was held in December

Į

6

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO