AnnualReport-1927 — Page 446

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The health of the school was good. The discipline and morale have been good; and in this connection I wish to thank the Perfects on whom so much depends and who performed their work so well.

As far as possible we distribute the sports over the various months of the year so that there may not be a surfeit of them all together.

The volley-ball and football competitions are always keenly contested. When I state that, in the volley-ball 25 teams and in the football 27 teams, competed for the inter-class shields you will see to what a large proportion of the school these games give healthy exercise.

Through the kindness of the Chinese Y.M.C.A. we were enabled to have our Swimming Sports again this year; the meeting was very successful. Earlier in the year on a few holidays we had all-day bathing parties when upwards of 600 boys went out to bathe. Thanks to the kindness of the Military Authorities we were enabled to have ten good swimmers from the regiment with us each time who were always swimming about in the water in case of emergency. Fortunately there were no mishaps. These all-day picnics are an expensive item which cannot be indulged in frequently.

Our Annual running and jumping competitions took place in April in very good weather. A large contingent of the Members of the Q. C. Old Boys' Association and other old boys were present and added to the interest by competing in some of the events. The interest and appreciation which the past pupils show in the activities of the present pupils is a greater stimulus almost than anything else in the work and sport of the school.

Another close and very important link is the school magazine. It has had a very successful year.

But after all, the chief work of a school is the developing of boys in mind and the moulding of their characters so as to fit them for the occupations of their after years. We have carried through the year's work steadily and on the whole well. The standard of work as judged by examinations seems to be getting slightly harder. The actual courses of work done are systematic, broad, and helpful.

Boys are coming to us younger than they used to do. The Director of Education has demanded that in future the limit of age to Class 8 be made a year younger still.

In the lower school 375 were examined and of these 303 or 80.5% passed. In Class 3 we examined 174 boys, and of these 93 or 53.5% passed.