Dangkong.
No Q4.
11th February 1874 Gavemor
I'm Aritun Kennedy, Remben,
to
The Right Omorable
"The Pearl of Stimberley.
Education.
Public Examination of Scholars at the Government Sertral School on the 10 Fabmany
Pravomits Report of Proceedings at the
Hendosure
Mstructive,
THE CHINA MAIL.
HONGKONG, TUESDAY, FEB, 10, 1874.
CENTRAL SCHOOL EXAMINATION.
An-
The annual public examination of the boys of the Government Central School took place this forenoon, and H. E. the Governor distributed the prizes to those who had distinguished themselves. Amongst those present to witness the examination and presentation were the Hon. J. G. Austin, Hon. C. C. Smith, Hon. P. Byrie, Revd. Mr Piton, Mesars Romano, T. Nel son, and Guttierez. We are glad to ob- serve that there were a few ladies present also, thus showing that a greater interest is taken in the school. The boys assembled in the school-room varied much in age, some being quite grown up men, while others were scarcely higher than the table on which the different prizes were arrang- ed. There was also a considerable variety of nationality as regarded the pupils, com- prising Chinese, English, Portuguese, and Indian. It is somewhat remarkable that the prizes fell more to the lot of youngstere than to the elder lads. This was especially noticeable in the case of a boy who, though the best arithmetician in the whole school, was hardly higher than the table.
He was said to have obtained the fullest number of warks that could be given for arithmetic, and His Excellency congratulated him ou his having so distinguished himself. other youthful recipient of a prize was a lad, apparently still younger than the last, who gained it for regularity, punctuality, and good conduct. In presenting the prize to him, His Excellency observed that every one was not gifted with cleverness, but it was open to every one to be regular, punctual, and well-behaved, and he hoped all the other boys would follow the exam- ple of this small boy. Another youngster was the recipient of a prize, for geography, of two globes, and H. E. asked him whe- ther he was fond of geography; the reply being in the affirmative, H. E. remarked to him that the study of geography would · be found very among as he grew older.
When the distribution was over, H. E, addressed the boys. He said it was a year since he had been there, and it gave him much pleasure to address them now. te was afraid a great many of those present could not understand him, but to those be did, he offered his congratulations that they had passed through another year. During this year, there had been a great and im- portant change in the way of maintaining this School as well as other Schools. Aids were Bow made to Schools for results instead of gente. The Government was very liberal in that respect, and would be still more liberal if the system were found to work well. Payment by results meant that money would be given to each School in proportion to the amount of work done. Shams were bad, and nothing could be worse than a sham School, where time was wasted which could not be recalled. It also led parents to think that their chil dren were taught when they were not, And moreover, that wretched delusion was not, unfortunately, discovered until in after life. He thought it blameable to allow that faulty system to continue; hence the introduction of payments by results. That system was found to work well elsewhere and no doubt it would work well here too. The reports so far had been very satisfactory, The plan would also be an encourage. ment to the masters, and an inducement to the boys themselves to strive to learn; it would be very discouraging to a master to find that his boys did not improve and that his labours had been wasted. To the boy it would be pleasant to know how the boy sitting next to him stood in the class. The system would also be a means whereby to distinguish between industry and lazi iness.
Referring to the conduct of the boys, H. E. believe they had behaved well, for there had been no reports. He believed that the Government had gained the con- fidence of the Chinese in the Colony; they were not only treated with impartiality, but their children could be also taught in this school, where no interfereuce was made with their conscience in regard to religious
matters. The boys were offered simply an education, and he believed if there had teen more room than the Government at pre- sent could afford, there would have been more boys. Reverting to religious instruc tion, H. E. said that it was impossible to satisfy all denominations of religion. He had tried, and had seen it tried, to make religion an element in the instruction of a sobool, but the system failed. Boys trained up to a certain faith would not be satisfied to stop there when they grew up, but would fined out for themselves, Therefore the best way was to let them have freedom of conscience. The school only offered them instruction; an education they must find elsewhere. H. E. concluded his address by wishing the boys a happy holiday.
Mr Stewart, the head master of the school, was called on to say a few words. He began by thanking those present for their presence, and for the interest they took in presenting the school with prizea. He was glad to find that the interest in the school had not abated. He was sure whenever sympathy was required for the school, the public would readily give it. Referring to the recent discussion about the school, he said this was no place to vindicate the character of the institution but here The boys WaB proof of its utility.
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before them were not all the boys in the school, for there were 810. There were 40 boys more lust year, and 110 the year before.
The speaker next touched upon the want of accommodation in the school. For years he had been hoping for more accommoda- tion, not only for the boys but for visitors, but he had always been disappointed, and be was getting tired of hoping. He trusted. however that it would not be long before another building would be built, the pre- sent one being quite unit. l'eyond the school rooms, there was not an inch of standing ground for the boys to indulge in exercises, and "all work and no play would make Jack a dull boy." In illustra- tion of the necessity of exercise, he men- tioned that several years ago, the Foochow Arsenal wanted to get some students for the Arsenal; the whole number required was selected, but out of that number, 12 uld not pass the doctor, chiefly on account of cheat complaints. He thought gymnastic exercises were quite necessary to the boys. it was imp ssible, however, to think of a new building now, but a fourth master was necessary, and be expected to have one before long. Be concluded by saying that the holiday to the boys would commence ou the termination of these proceedings.
H. E. then wished the boys a happy holiday and the proceedings terminated. We subjoin a list of the prize-takers, prizes, and donors,
THE GOVERNMENT SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS.
THE annual examination of the pupils at the Central School is something more than a mere ceremony for the glorifica- tion of the institution. Formal as the public proceedings necessarily are, and obvious as it is that the real work of the examination is a very different thing to the superficial questioning alone possible on such occasions, the affair represents something beyond the gift of a few books or other articles to boys who have excel- led their class-mates. The presence of H. E the Governor gives the native section of the population an assurance that education is deemed of high impor- tance by the authorities, while those who represent the foreign public equally bring home to it the satisfactory fact that foreign sympathies generally are with all educational efforts, whether for the good of Chinese or Europeans.
It is, by the way, a notable fact that the old-time contempt entertained by natives for foreign literature and aids to progress bas materially disappeared. No doubt, utility alone forms the chief standard, by which such matters are judged in the native mind. But we can hardly expect otherwise, considering the
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