1871 — Page 181

that education, whatever protestations are made to the contrary, must be religious; and, on the other, that if it is sccular it must be irreligious. Such language is as applicable to the exchange or the unting house as it is to school or college. Science and Language are as distant from dogma as are the details of the Share Market. These are the merest truisins; but theirs is the fault who render the repetition of them a necessity.

19. Of the 134 boys who left during the year, 50 are known to have obtained Incrative employ- ment; 19 left the Colony and returned to their native places; 33 did not return after the New Year and midsummer holidays, and probably did not return to the Colony; 17 had their names removed from the roll, principally for irregularity, but in one or two enses for disobedience; 11 went to Chinese schools; 5 left on account of sickness; and I died. Of those who have obtained employ- ment, 33 are known to be in Hongkong, Canton and adjacent places: 2 in Swatow; 1 in Foochow;

in Shanghai; 3 in Japan; 1 in San Francisco; 1 in Annam; 1 in Singapore; and 1 in Bombay,

20. The number of those who left during the year was greater by 39 than in 1870. This ints to the difficulty already alluded to, against which the school has to contend. Many boys em to come without any definite idea of what they intend doing. Many parents, too, who, at first, think nothing of the payment of the small fee, in the course of a month or two begin to grudge it and withdraw their boys, frequently themselves also withdrawing from the Colony. By far the greatest number of those who leave before getting employment is accounted for by the shifting Faracter of the population. In addition to all these causes, there is this other one, that many of the thinese think that the acquirement of English, or of any other barbarian language, is an affair not of years but of months. When they find their mistake, instead of trying to mend it, they ent the kust of the difficulty, and give themselves no further trouble about a matter of so small importance.

21. The problem which the school is working out for itself is whether it is to be one of elemen- tary instruction for the many, or of higher instruction for the few; that is, whether it is ultimately to be for the education of 900 or of 300, for a smaller number than the latter cannot be contemplated. It would be premunture, at present, to attempt to solve the problem, and it might be disastrous to alopt, at once, either course, without waiting for, and taking advantage of, the current of events,

The

22. The only new subject introduend in 1871 was Mathematical Drawing. Not much progresS had been made, as the necessary materials did not arrive from England till late in the year. Music class still progresses, and the Chemistry class has been highly stressful. To the Drawing and Music only one hour a week can be devoted; mil this, taken in connection with the constant changes in the classes, prevents great or rapid progress. To the Chemistry class more time is devoted, and there is a corresponding result. The weekly exercises connected with this subject, and the papers written at the last examination by the boys who had been in the class for the whole year showed very clearly what could be done if the classes were more permanent.

23 Before another Report is written, I hope to see an entirely new building in the course of construction. No more progress can be male without increased accommodation, and that cannot well be obtained without a new school, built on recognized principles and, therefore, specially adapted for school purposes, which a grent part of the present building never was, and never can be. The expense may be a serions consideration; but if the school is worth retaining, and it has established its title to that, the money required should not he grudged, especially at a time when there are funds. available which are not likely to be available long, As, however, this subject is receiving the consi deration of the Government, it need not be further discussed here.

24. The school fees amounted during the year to $1,763.75, of which $1,511.25 went into the Treasury, and $252.50 to the salary of the teacher of the Preparatory class.

25. Nothing now remains but to express the thanks of all connected with the school to our Prize- givers. These were His Excellency the GOVERNOR, His Excellency the LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR, the Honourable Chief-Justice SMALE, the Honourable C. C. Sмrrn, Dr. Doos, Mr. KwOR CHEUNG, Mr. MOORSOм, Mr. RUSSELL, Mr. SAINT, and Mr. Wat Kwoso, by whose donations, in wldition to the sun on the year's Estimates, prizes to the value of upwards of $300 were awarded at the recent examination.

26. As previously stated, 1871 did not prove a very favourable year to the Village Schools, The number under instruction for the year was less by 40 than in 1870; and this, although there were two additional schools. The attendance, too, became very irregular towards the end of the year; more so than it had been for the previous year. This was attributable to two causes, the high price of rice and the dullness of trade. In all the villages the same answer was given, when enquiries were made as to the causes of the decreased and the irregular attendance. Whenever it. was possible for a child to earn a few cash by grass cutting, firewood gathering, or cake selling, he was taken away from school. In the most favourable years the poverty in our villages is something of which few can have any idea, but in a year, such as the last, when the staff of life is dear, it must be something very serious.