334
18
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PRESENT STATE
SIR,
(No. 13.)
Sub-enclosure 1 in No. 2.
Hong Kong, January 31, 1870.
I HAVE the honour of presenting to you the annual Report on the Government schools in this Colony for the year 1869.
2. Having entered so fully into the history of these schools in the last annual Report, I do not deem it necessary to do anything more in the present one than to refer to a few matters of detail.
3. The arrival of a third English master, in the course of last year, has added very considerably to the efficiency of the Central School. Subjects which, previously, could be attended to with great difficulty have now become a regular part of the school routine. Two new subjects, Chemistry and Geometry, have been added, and all the ordinary branches receive much greater attention than, in former years, could possibly be given to them. The additional assistance also enables the Head Master to have the whole school more completely under his own personal supervision. He is no longer what he really was before, simply the teacher of three of the classes. It may be safely said that the school has entered on a new stage of progress.
4. After long delay, the laboratory is at last in full working order. Considerable difficulty was experienced at first, partly from the defective state of the apparatus, which had been lying unused for about two years, and partly from my own inexperience.
5. The lessons in chemistry proceed slowly, but, it is to be hoped, surely. The aim attempted is not the mere amusement, but, as far as may be, the sound instruction of the boys in a department of science to which they have nothing corresponding in their own schools. Much interest in it is taken by them at present. It will be unfortunate if it is allowed to flag. It is not likely, however, that the indifference, real or assumed, of their countrymen to this and kindred studies will be any impediment here. The boys are too young in the art of dissimulation to feel that the gratification of a natural curiosity is a confession of inferiority.
6. Although additional assistance has been obtained, the number of scholars at the school has not been materially increased. This was not intended. With even a smaller attendance, there would be ample work for the present teachers, more especially as the gradual increase in the number of village schools necessitates the more frequent absence of the Head Master. The object to be gained is not, at present, the attraction of more scholars, but the thorough teaching of the school in its existing condition.
7. Through the liberality of his Excellency the Governor, The Honourable C. C. Smith, Dr. Murray, Mr. Gerrard, and Mr. Wai A-kwong, in addition to the sum placed on the estimates for the purpose, prizes of the value of two hundred and five dollars were awarded to the most deserving, at the recent public examination. The encouragement thus given to the school should not pass unnoticed; and the promises made for the coming year give good hope that the school has at last obtained the recognition to which it is not unfairly entitled. It is now time, when a stranger inquires, at public places in Queen's Road and elsewhere for the way to the Central School, that he should not inquire in vain.
8. The presence of a number of the parents and friends of the scholars at the late examination gives even greater encouragement than the liberality just alluded to. Hitherto, for reasons which it would be difficult to assign, the Chinese residents in the Colony have kept aloof from the school,—parents, even when living here, seldom take the trouble to come and ask admission for their sons. Whatever pleasure it may have given the boys to see this new feature in the day's proceedings, the pleasure felt by the teachers was of the most unqualified description. Nothing that has happened since the school was established has augured so well for its future prosperity.
9. It may not be out of place in this Report to allude to the admission into the school of boys other than Chinese. When the school was first made open to all, of whatever nationality, a few availed themselves of the privilege. They remained but a short time! They were evidently disappointed. Their expectations and objections will be referred to presently. I am aware that many are anxious for admission, but they hold back until the terms they dictate be acceded to.
10. By opening the school to all comers, it was apparently expected that a special class would be formed for such as do not wish to learn Chinese. Others, who do not object to learning Chinese, object to the school hours. They say that eight hours a day is too hard a task on the energies of the boys. Others, again, are exclusive, and wish their children to be kept entirely separate from the Chinese.
11. For a boy to come to the school and not to learn Chinese, it is simply a waste of time. There must be some common language as a medium of intercommunication between the
334
18
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PRESENT STATE
SIR,
(No. 13.)
Sub-enclosure 1 in No. 2.
Hong Kong, January 31, 1870.
I HAVE the honour of presenting to you the annual Report on the Government, schools in this Colony for the year 1869.
带
2. Having entered so fully into the history of these schools in the last annual Report, I do not deem it necessary to do anything more in the present one than to refer to a few matters of detail.
'!
}
3. The arrival of a third English master, in the course of last year, has added very con siderably to the efficiency of the Central School Subjects which, previously, could be attended to with great difficulty have now become a regular part of the school routine. Two' new subjects, Chemistry and Geometry, have been added, and all the ordinary branches receive much greater attention than, in former years, could possibly be given to them. The additional assistance also enables the Head Master to have the whole school more completely under his own personal supervision. He is no longer what he really was before, simply the teacher of three of the classes. It may be safely said that the school has entered on a new stage of progress.
3
4. After loug delay, the laboratory is at last in full working order. Considerable dif- ficulty was experienced at first, partly from the defective state of the apparatus, which had been lying unused for about two years, and partly from my own inexperience.
5. The lessons in chemistry proceed slowly, but, it is to be hoped, surely. The aim at- tempted is not the mere amusement, but, as far as may be, the sound instruction of the boys in a department of science to which they have nothing corresponding in their own schools. Much interest in it is taken by them at present. It will be unfortunate if it is allowed to flag. It is not likely, however, that the indifference, real or assumed, of their countrymen to this and kindred studies will be any impediment here. The boys are too young in the art of dissimulation to feel that the gratification of a natural curiosity is a confession of inferiority.
1
6. Although additional assistance has been obtained, the number of scholars at the school has not been materially increased. This was not intended. With even a smaller attend- ance, there would be ample work for the present teachers, more especially as the gradual increase in the number of village schools necessitates the more frequent absence of the Head Master. The object to be gained is not, at present, the attraction of more scholars, but the thorough teaching of the school in its existing condition.
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7. Through the liberality of his Excellency the Governor, The Honourable C. C. Smith, Dr. Murray, Mr. Gerrard, and Mr. Wai A-kwong, in addition to the sum placed on the estimates for the purpose, prizes of the value of two hundred and five dollars were awarded to the most deserving, at the recent public examination. The encouragement thus given to the school should not pass unnoticed; and the promises made for the coming year give good hope that the school has at last obtained the recognition to which it is not unfairly entitled. It is now time, when a stranger inquires, at public places in Queen's Road and elsewhero for the way to the Central School, that he should not inquire in vain, t
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8. The presence of a number of the parents and friends of the scholars at the late exami- nation gives even greater encouragement than the liberality just alluded to. Hitherto, for reasons which it would be difficult to assign, the Chinese residents in the Colony have kept aloof from the school,-parents, even when living here, seldom take the trouble to come and ask admission for their sons. Whatever pleasure it may have given the boys to see this new feature in the day's proceedings, the pleasure felt by the teachers was of the most unqualified description. Nothing that has happened since the school was established has augured so well for its future prosperity.
T
9. It may not be out of place in this Report to allude to the admission into the school of boys other than Chinese. When the school was first made open to all, of whatever nation- ality, a few availed themselves of the privilege. They remained but a short time! They were evidently disappointed. Their expectations and objections will be referred to pre- scutly. I am aware that many are anxious for admission, but they hold back until the terms they dictate be acceded to.
legever, and honest
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10. By opening the school to all comers, it was apparently expected that a special class would be formed for such as do not wish to learn Chinese." Others, who do not object to learning Chinese, object to the school hours. They say that eight hours a day is too bard a task on the energies of the boys. Others, again, are exclusive, and wish their children to be kept entirely separate from the Chinese.
11. For a boy to come to the school and not to learn Chinese, it is simply a waste of time. There must be some common language as a medium of intercommunication between the
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