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Making the Bible a class book in the school will not reine- dy the present state of things. Time only will do that.
Here he dwells on the secular education, which had been adopted at the Government school in preference to Christian education. "Christian and secular edu- cation, says Mr. Stewart, must for the present, be accep led as two distinct fields of operation in Hongkong, the Missionary will make his choice, the Government its choice." The reason why the secular education has been adopted was the great repugnance which Chinese mind has to religious instruction. However the system was on its trial." When schools, he says, where the Bible is read and religions instruction given, show better results in the future, thau they have done in the past, objectors to secular education will receive a patient hearing." Mr. Stewart concludes with saying that if anything untoward does happen with these boys it may be in connection with, but it will not be in consequence of the education which they are receiving. Three more schools have been opened in different villages and a system of grant in aid has been inaugurated The school houses, although bad, belong to the villagers. The Government gives $5 a month to each of the three teachers, the rest is supplied in kind by the villagers. This system of grant in aid works very well, as the villagers prefer to have a school master of their own choice. Matters says Mr. Stewart, stand on a different footing when aid and not support is asked for.
Attention is called again to the large number of children who go to no school which he estimates at 10,697. This fact must be taken, he says, as a measure of the in- difference of the people and not of the niggardliness of the Government. The only remedy he suggests is compulsion. The Head Master and Inspector dwells very long ou some objections put before the public against the Govern- ment School by Dr. Alford Lord Bishop of Victoria. With regard to the Bible teaching, Mr. Stewart says that it has not been abolished but only allowed to fall off and at present the Bible is read in a few village schools. He says that he was told by the Chinese that they would not accept of even free education, of which Christianity formed a part.
But Mr. Stewart continues. "I admit that this is only half the truth; else why do not numbers increase now. when it is most distinctly understood, that the reading of the Bible need not form obstacle, and when it is no longer
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necessary to have recourse to dissimulation in this parti- enlar ?" the real reasons, therefore must be different. Mr. Stewart then proceeds to defend secular education from the attack of the Bishop.
With this report we begin to find statistics of the expenses. They were $11, 580; fees paid by the scholars $1,299, 35; average expenses of each scholar at the Go- vernment Schools $11. 18. The maximum Eurolment was 916, and the maximum attendance was 664.
The average expenses are taken from the enrolment not from the attendance.
The Report for the year 1869 in comparison with the others is short. It has sixteen paragraphs, of which fif- toen are devoted to the Central School. The last expressed in six lines and a half, is concerning the villago schools of which it is only said that the system of Grants in aid in- stead of complete success, is slowly advancing. Three such schools were added during the year.
With regard to the Central School Mr. Stewart re- ports the arrival of the third English Master. Chemistry and Geometry have been added to the course of education. The Laboratory is at last in full working order. The lessons in Chemistry proceed slowly but it is to be hoped, surely.
Although additional assistance has been obtained the number of scholars at the School has not been materially increased.
Although the school has been made open to all only a few availed themselves of the privilege and they remain but a short time. They had some objections to the system of the school.
Mr. Stewart with great reason says: For a boy to come to the school and not to learn Chinese, is simply a waste of time......The school-hours are confessedly long and if it were possible to curtail them it would be done. Prac- tically this is impossible...... To those who wish a separate class and class-room, only one thing can be said. The Central School is no place for them.
The number of scholars enrolled amounted to 924. The expenses, deducting fees, $10,647.00; average expense of each scholar $11,30.
The report for 1870 is divided into three parts. 1. The Central School. 2. The village schools supported by the Government 8. The schools receiving grants in aid.
With regard to the Central School nothing new is said
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