AnnualReport-1927 — Page 449

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in the school get many hours of teaching per week from a European Master or Mistress: this will have a very beneficial effect in the long run from many points of view.

Script writing was introduced in the lowest classes two years ago and there has been a marked improvement in the hand- writing.

Games, Drill, Excursions by launch, train and motor-bus, Swimming and Educational Walks are an essential part of our curriculum and I find that time allowed off during the afternoons in which to play Volley Ball Competitions, Football at Cause- way Bay, to swim at Kennedy Town, to explore the island and the New Territories in connection with Geography lessons, to visit the reservoirs, industrial undertakings, etc. does not react unfavourably on the work in school:

The Medical Officer for Schools visited the school on many occasions and, apart from many defects in eyesight, reported favourably both on the boys and school premises. Over 700 boys were vaccinated at the school in March.

The Boy Scouts (6th Troop) is not a very flourishing organisation: it is difficult to get boys to join. At Tsing Ming they had a camp at Sai Wan.

I note with great satisfaction that the maximum age for admission to Class 8 has been reduced to 13.

I feel that 8 years in the schools of Hong Kong and 5 or 6 years subsequently at the University would so stamp or mould boys as to leave permanent marks: this would redound to the credit of Hong Kong and to the advantage of China-boys with discipline, ideals, and a desire to remember that character and service and not self-interest are the highest things in life.

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Yaumati School: -Head Master, Mr. A. O. Brawn,

The Maximum Enrolment was 280 (257 in 1926).

The Average Attendance was 247 (246 in 1926).

At the Annual Examination 91% passed.

At the Annual Class 4 Examination 38 passed out of 41 examined,-92.7% a distinct improvement on the previous year, when only 75% passed.

Former pupils continue to do well, several every year swelling the list of Queen's College successes.

The discipline and tone of the school continue very good.