for advice and instruction. In fact the duties of the Inspectors are really those of peripatetic Normal Masters. Under these conditions the standard of efficiency in the Vernacular Schools has risen very rapidly in the past few years, and is now about as high as can be expected of the general level of capacity displayed by the teaching staff. That is unfortunately a low one on the whole. And the best hope of a rapid improvement lies in teaching the teachers. To this end, Evening Classes have for many years been established as explained below. But it is much to expect of a teacher to attend such Classes at a distance from his home at the conclusion of a day's work. Many teachers besides are of an age and mental habit which render them irresponsive to new ideas. For this among other reasons, the training of the next generation of teachers is the most necessary step precedent to any further great advance in education as a whole.
# TRAINING OF TEACHERS
24. Similar difficulty in obtaining Staff prevails all over the world; and that is one reason why Normal training is so very important in Hongkong. Another reason is that though our school buildings are now full, which limits the Staff required, a big forward stride is sure to be taken sooner or later, when the demands on the Staff will be greater than ever. A third reason is that the growing cost of British trained teachers calls for the dilution of their services by a locally trained product.
25. This need has been recognized for many years, and a number of efforts some very unambitious in appearance but considerable in the aggregate-have been made to meet it. The existing centres of Normal Training conducted by the Department are:--
A.-Normal Instruction through the medium of English.
(i) The pupil teacher system at Queen's College. 19 of the senior pupils take a two or three years course at the College while completing their education. At its conclusion they have hitherto been given masterships at Government Schools. (But see iii).
(ii) On thus becoming masters they go through a three years course of evening instruction at the Technical Institute, at Classes which are also attended by Chinese Masters from the Grant Schools. There are at present in Government Schools 66 masters who have completed or are completing this course.
(iii) Four years ago it was decided as an alternative to send some pupil teachers to the University as "Students in Training,' there to take a degree in Arts and a Diploma in Pedagogy. The experiment having proved successful, it has been decided to substitute this field of training for the Technical Institute. Provision has been made for 26 such students in 1921.
(iv) There is a Normal Class for women at the Technical Institute with an attendance of about 10, mostly junior teachers from the British and Belilios Schools. It is a three years' course,
0 6
for advice and instruction. In fact the duties of the Inspectors are really those of peripatetic Normal Masters. Under these conditions the standard of efficiency in the Vernacular Schools has risen very rapidly in the past few years, and is now about as high as can be expected of the general level of capacity displayed by the teaching staff. That is unfortunately a low one on the whole. And the best hope of a rapid improvement lies in teaching the teachers. To this end, Evening Classes have for many years been established as explained below. But it is much to expect of a teacher to attend such Classes at a distance from his home at the conclusion of a day's work. Many teachers besides are of an age and mental habit which render them irresponsive to new ideas. For this among other reasons, the training of the next generation of teachers is the most necessary step precedent to any further great advance in education as a whole.
TRAINING OF TEACHERS.
24. Similar difficulty in obtaining Staff prevails all over the world; and that is one reason why Normal training is so very im- portant in Hongkong. Another reason is that though our school buildings are now full, which limits the Staff required, a big forward stride is sure to be taken sooner or later, when the demands on the Staff will be greater than ever. A third reason is that the growing cost of British trained teachers calls for the dilution of their services by a locally trained product.
25. This need has been recognized for many years, and a number of efforts some very unambitious in appearance but con- siderable in the aggregate-have been made to meet it. The existing centres of Normal Training conducted by the Department are:--
A.-Normal Instruction through the medium of English.
(i) The pupil teacher system at Queen's College. 19 of the senior pupils take a two or three years course at the College while completing their education. At its conclusion they have hitherto been given masterships at Government Schools. (But see iii).
(ii) On thus becoming masters they go through a three years course of evening instruction at the Technical Institute, at Classes which are also attended by Chinese Masters from the Grant Schools. There are at present in Government Schools 66 masters who have completed or are completing this course.
""
(iii) Four years ago it was decided as an alternative to send some pupil teachers to the University as "Students in Training,' there to take a degree in Arts and a Diploma in Pedagogy. The experiment having proved successful, it has been decided to sub- stitute this field of training for the Technical Institute. Provision has been made for 26 such students in 1921.
(iv) There is a Normal Class for women at the Technical Institute with an attendance of about 10, mostly junior teachers from the British and Belilios Schools. It is a three years' course,
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.