1861 — Page 128

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO:

BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON]

PUBLIC

RECORD OFFICE

Reference

133

18

[248]

:

[249]

128

No. 22

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

The following Report of the BOARD OF EDUCATION for 1861, is published for general information.

By Order,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 4th March, 1862.

W. H. ALEXANDER, Acting Colonial Secretary

To His Excellency

SIR HERCULES G. R. ROBINSON,

Governor, ģe., §r. of Hongkong.

We, the Board of Education, beg to submit to Your Excellency the following annual Report:

Brief as the Report of the Board of Education has been in former years, that for the past year must be still more so. It has laboured under increased disadvantages in consequence of the resignation of the Rev. Mr. Irwin in the early part of

the year, and of the departure of the Rev. Mr. Beach for Teen-tsien at a later period. There then remained only the Rev. Dr. Legge, to exercise an efficient inspection of the Schools.

Dr. Legge has endeavoured to look after the boys' schools in the middle and upper Bazaars, which he undertook to do in 1800, while there was no regular Inspector. He has also made repented visits to the schools at West Point and in Webster's Bazaar, Bowrington, and Tang-lung-chow. He is able to report favourably of all these. The attendance has been good, and the Teachers have been attentive.

The more earnest of the Teachers, however, complain of the difficulty which they have in securing the regular and perma- nent attendance of the pupils. In their last Heport the Board suggested that this evil might be combated by the institution of a judicious system of rewards for good attendance, good behaviour, and proficiency. It has been unable to take any steps, during the past year, in accordance with that recommendation, but would advise that it be not lost sight of, when the arrival of a Head-master for the Central School shall render it possible to have a regular system of visitation of all the schools. The Board rejoices that a gentleman highly recommended for the situation of Head-innster will soon arrive; and hopes that the school rooms in Gough Street will be ready for the reception of the three schools of the Middle Bazaar, the Upper Bazaar, and the Tai-ping-shan by the time for reopening them after the Chinese New Year.

A new and convenient school room was completed and opened, in the month of August, in the thriving village of Show- ke-wan.

On behalf of the Board,

Hongkong, 14th February, 1802,

G. VICTORIA,

Chairman.