CO129-170 - Sir Kennedy - 1875 [1-3] -- Acting Governor Austin - 1875 [3-6] — Page 75

The Daily Pres

ress

HONGKONG, January 30th, 1875.

Two of

Ir is satisfactory to find, from the annual examinations at the Government Central School, which were held yesterday, that the great cause of education is making steady progress in the Colony. There were 325 scholars present yesterday against 316 the previous year, and the average attendance at the school was also larger than that of; last year. The great majority of the lads who had left the institution had, according to the report, made a good start in life, many of them having taken service under Govern- ment, or been appointed interpreters. If nothing more bad been accomplished through its agency, the Government Central School would have done a great work in spreading a knowledge of the English language among the Chinese population. Many of the pupils have attained the highest proficiency, and can readily translate difficult passages of English into Chinese and vice versa. the European scholars also gained prizes for proficiency in the Chinese language, and re- ceived from H. E. the GovERNOR Some well- deserved words of approval and encourage- ent. The boys cannot do better than per- severe in this study, which though needing close application and much laborious work, will certainly some day prove a most valuable and paying acquisition. It is also desirable in the public interest that the utmost en- couragement should be extended to them in the pursuit of this study, for European interpreters are now at a premium, and their neel is felt daily. It would be a wise policy to offer a very valuable prize to this class to stimulate efforts to gain an acquirement so much desiderated. The examination in other branches of study showed that Mr. STEWART'S and his assistants' labours had been pro- ductive of most substantial results. Many of the questions in algebra and chemistry were sufficient to put the inmates of some of the large English public schools on their mettle, and it is gratifying to find such a creditable appearance made by the boys at this estab- lis bment. The school rooms greatly need extension, and the work would, we believe, have been commenced before, but for the typhoon, which necessarily delayed the building operations. No doubt the work of enlargement will shortly be undertaken, and there is no doubt that the new buildings wil speedily be filled.

One important point Sir ARTHUR KEN- NEDY spoke very decidedly on. We refer to the question of the propriety of allowing religious teaching in the schools. We beartily concur in all that fell from his lips on this subject. For the schoolmasters to attempt to impart it would be most un- advisable. Theoretically the thing is absurd, and practically impossible, when the mixed¦ nationality of the boys is considered. An undenominational basis is beyond all ques- tion the very best on which a school, where children of parents who profess different faiths are sent, can rest. In seeking to make the school a means for the promulgation of: religious dogmas, strife and heartburnings are unavoidable. At home one of the fiercest contentions agitating the public mind has arisen on this controversy. Here, however, in this instance there can be little argument needed, for it would be utter folly to doubt that the present system works far better than any other possibly could do. His Excellency the GOVERNOR remarked truly enough that it was better to let well alone, and that be was perfectly satisfied with the manner in which the schools had been conducted. The schoolmaster ought not to be burdened with work which does not properly belong to him. And unquestionably he is not the man to teach religion. That must be left to the parents and pastors of the children. It may sound very shocking to some good people to be told that religion and the Bible must be tabooed in a Government School, they may argue that most of the pupils will remain ignorant of Gon and the Christian faith; but they must remember that in giving the chil- dren the ability to read, the Government do their part, in proparing the ground for the re- ception of the seed. And this is all that ought to be expected in a public school. It is more-- it is enough. Where religion is taught, as it is in many English schools, the children de- rivo little real benefit from it. In fact, it is a most injurious thing to make a task-book of the Scriptures. Thereby many children have imbibed a dislike to the Sacred Book, a dislike which has grown up with them. There is a time and a place for all things, and the public school-room is not the place nor are school hours the time to endeavour to in- stil into young minds the solemn and my- sterious truths of Christianity. And more especially is it the case when the religions of the children embrace almost every faith, pagan and Christian, as they do in the Go- vernment Central School. Mr. STEWART'S testimony is wholly in favour of a secular platform, and there is no one in the colony more competent to judge.

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