N 15-
Two boys did good Dictation papers; I find the Spelling in the Upper School very poor. This appears in the English Composition, which is, I think, the weakest subject; the boys do not seem able to express themselves, though many of them have quite a number of ideas. The English Grammar was also very poor. They know no Syntax whatever, and their knowledge of Accidence is very imperfect, some cannot even distinguish the parts of speech.
The Geography was rather better, three boys obtaining 60 per cent., but the work done was not well known. I think very likely they failed through inability to put their knowledge on paper, a very common result of want of experience in examinations.
The amount of History done was very small, but it was known fairly well; they seem interested in the subject.
The English Authors, "Robinson Crusoe" and "Westward Ho", were well known. The inability to write a decently composed English sentence handicaps the boys greatly.
The standard of Mathematics is low on the whole. The methods by which they have been taught Mathematics are somewhat antiquated, and I think the boys will speedily improve in this subject. They had no knowledge of the Metric system, or of simple graphs.
The ignorance shown in the general knowledge paper was monumental. Nobody knew who was the last Prime Minister, or the leader of the Opposition in the English Parliament. Nobody knew the distinguishing flag flown by H.M. Ships. And so on, ad nauseam.
The Freehand Drawing on the whole is very good, and the boys like the subject. Their knowledge of Geometrical Drawing is very elementary.
The first half of the Acts of the Apostles, which is one of the portions appointed for study for the Oxford Locals, was known really excellently, and well and intelligently answered, the average for the eight boys being over 70 per cent.
They have no knowledge whatever of French, which nowadays is such an important part of a man's education.
The work done during the last three or four months seems to be that which has taken most effect on their minds. They hardly seem to remember doing anything before that time.
The schools have been visited quarterly by Government medical officers, and the pupils individually examined; and where the children's health required attention, parents have been informed.
Belilios Public School for Girls.
39. The chief difficulty in arranging the curriculum of schools for Chinese is to divide the time fairly between the English and Vernacular studies. In the boys' schools, a minimum knowledge of Chinese is ensured by an entrance examination. This knowledge is extended by lessons of one hour or rather more a day, till the pupil reaches the Upper School, when translation work for a few hours a week is all the Chinese that has hitherto been taught. At the Belilios Girls' School a different plan is followed. The preliminary Vernacular Education is given on the premises in the Vernacular Side of the school. After three years' study there a girl begins to study English also in the English Side. The process is then and thereafter as follows:-In Classes 8, 7, 6, 5 and 4, she studies subjects in which the medium of instruction is English for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
N 15-
Two boys did good Dictation papers; I find the Spelling in the Upper School very poor. This appears in the English Composition, which is, I think, the weakest subject; the boys do not seem able to express themselves, though many of thein have quite a number of ideas. The English Grammar was also very poor. They know no Syntax whatever, and their knowledge of Accidence is very imperfect, some cannot even distinguish the parts of speech.
The Geography was rather better, three boys obtaining 60 per cent., but the work done was not well known. I think very likely they failed through inability to put their knowledge on paper, a very common result of want of experience in examinatious.
The amount of History done was very small, but it was known fairly well; they seem interested in the subject.
The English Authors, "Robinson Crusoe" and "Westward Ho", were well known. The inability to write a decently composed English sentence handicaps the boys greatly.
The standard of Mathematics is low on the whole. The methods by which they have been taught Mathematics are somewhat antiquated, and I think the boys will speedily improve in this subject. They had no knowledge of the Metric system, or of simple graphis.
The ignorance shown in the general knowledge paper was monu- mental. Nobody knew who was the last Prime Minister, or the leader of the Opposition in the English Parliament. Nobody knew the dis- tinguishing flag flown by HM. Ships. And so on, ad nauseum.
The Freehand Drawing on the whole is very good, and the boys like the subject. Their knowledge of Geometrical Drawing is very elementary.
The first half of the Acts of the Apostles, which is one of the portions appointed for study for the Oxford Locals, was known really excellently, and well and intelligently answered, the average for the eight boys being over 70 per cent.
They have no knowledge whatever of French, which nowadays is such an important part of a man's education.
The work done during the last three or four months seems to be that which has taken most effect on their minds. They hardly seem to remember doing anything before that time.
The schools have been visited quarterly by Government medical officers, and the pupils individually exmained; and where the children's health required attention, parents have been informed.
Belilios Public School for Girls.
39. The chief difficulty in arranging the curriculum of schools for Chinese is to divide the time fairly between the English and Vernacular studies. In the boys schools, a minimum knowledge of Chinese is ensured by an entrance examination. This knowledge is extended by lessons of one hour or rather more a day, till the pupil reaches the Upper School, when translation work for a few hours a week is all the Chinese that has hitherto been taught. At the Belilios Girls' School a different plan is followed. The preliminary Vernacular Education is given on the premises in the Vernacular Side to the school. After three years' study there a girl begins to study English also in the English Side. The process is then and thereafter as follows:-In Classes 8, 7, 6, 5 and 4, she studies subjects in which the medium of instruction is English for 1, 2, 3. 4 and 5
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