HKG-CAR1844-1886 — Page 448

1841-1886

HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.

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thinks of Chinese girls working sums as far on as vulgar and decimal fractions, the result reached is highly creditable. It would be fortunate for the Colony, if it had more schools of this description. Memory is not cultivated in this school at the expense of the other faculties. The girls are taught intelligently on approved methods, and they show the effects of it in the intelligent way in which they do all their work.

26. The three Baxter schools sent up 72 girls for examination, of whom 59 passed. The highest standard taken was the fifth. These schools are ranked in Class I., which comprises those in which a Chinese education is given. The manager is anxious to have them in the same class as the Basel Mission School, where a European education is given in the Chinese language, and no doubt he will soon be able to have them there. The great obstacle at present is the want of qualified teachers, and the increased ex- penditure which a change would involve. In the meantime, it is a question deserving his best attention whether it would not be better to concentrate his efforts rather than extend them. One good school in Class III. would be worth half a dozen in Class I., as regards both the religious and secular portions of the education and he has the means of accomplishing that. This, however, is merely a suggestion, and may be taken by him for what it is worth.

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27. The London Mission School at Wán-tsai continues to main- tain its high position. The master does his work very thoroughly. Out of 50 scholars presented only six failed. In reading, writing (from dictation), composition, and geography, the school is very strong; and from the, accuracy with which the boys explained what they had read, a high estimate could be formed of the mas- ter's carefulness and ability. The Tái-ping Shán school was very unfortunate. At the end of the first six months, the teacher had to be dismissed for neglect of duty.

It would be wrong,

therefore, 'to attribute the great falling off to the present master. Of the 47 scholars presented 18 failed. In spite of this, there were sufficient indications of the present teacher's ability to lead to the belief that this year there will be a very different state of affairs. Great and much needed improvements were made in the two schoolrooms in the beginning of last year, but the sanitary arrangements still require the manager's best attention, and modern desks and forms should replace, as soon as possible, the Chinese tables, which occupy by far too much of the present limited space.

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28. It is very difficult to define the exact position of St. Saviour's day school. In consequence of a complete change in the manage- ment, a request to have the school examined in the middle of November, instead of at the usual time, was complied with on certain conditions. In consequence of this, the school was deprived of more than a month of its most valuable time. The results now to be stated must, therefore, be viewed in the light of this explana- tion. Of the 54 scholars found eligible for examination, 33 passed and 21 failed, and of the 33 who passed, 15 had to depend for their