34-
The outlay for 1873 has been $16,694, 40. The an- nual enrolment of scholars was 1,888 the maximum regn- lar attendance 1326. The minimum monthly eurolment was 852 and the minimum regular attendance 760.
We see in the Report for the first time six denomina- tional schools receiving grant-in-aid. The total number of their pupils is 442 and the amount of grant $265, 16.
One of these was St. Saviour's which the report states was under the management of the Revd Father Palmer.
Mention is made for the first time also of the Morrison Scholarship.
"In the month of May last, Mr Stewart says, the sum of $9,000 was handed over to Trustees by the members of the late Morrison Education society to found a scholarship at this school.
"Whether the school will ultimately enjoy the benefit of the scholarship, unfettered by conditions inconsistent with the system on which it is conducted is a question which can- not be much longer delayed. A legal decision on the point at issue, which seems to be the only practical solution will have to be obtained soon, if no arrangement can be made in the meantime.
"The difficulty which has arisen in this matter, con- tinues Mr. Stewart, points to recent discussion on the School and to the diss tisfaction which has been expres- sed by some at what they are pleased to call its "godless" character" After having referred to the past annual Report in which the question has been so often reviewed Mr. Stewart continues:---
Theoretically right or theoretically wrong, the po- sition of the Government with regard to education is per- fectly intelligible and has been found to be eminently prac- tical. It is simply an endeavour to meet, as far as can possible be done, every denomination, Christian and Pagan, on common ground, and a determination to refrain from wounding the susceptibility of any one on the point of all points, on which men are most susceptible. If a precise statement cannot be given of the exact spot, on which all are thus met, it does not follow, that no such meeting- place has been found, To wait till a theory has been per- fected, before action is taken in a matter of vital impor- tance to the well being of the colony as well as of indivi- duals, is to follow the example of Busticus in making no effort to wade or swim the stream, but contenting him-
35
self with waiting on the bank until all the water shall have run down."
In one of the leading articles, which appeared in the China Mail, January 28th, 1875, we read about the Morrison scholarship being next day given as a prize at the Central School, It will be recollected that two of the Trustees the Revd. Dr. Eitel and J. Lamont objected to the exclusion of Christian instruction from the course prescribed for the candidates, while Mr. Stewart was equally unable, in view of the essentially secular character of the Central School, to sanction its being included. It was, however finally agreed that in view of the present purely secular character of the school the religious part of the course should be held in abeyance until such time as the regulations admitted of its being made a part of the system.
"
On January 20th took place the annual public exami. nation at the Central School with the distribution of pri- After zes by His Excellency Sir Arthur Kennedy. having eulogized the Schools H. E. tonched upon a sub- ject (to which he had already alluded last year) the absen- ce of religious instruction in the school, which was not in- troduced simply because any attempt in that direction would be impossible in a school composed of mixed natio- nalities. To suppose therefore, continues His Excellency, that the Government was opposed to religious instruction was a great error. (Mail.) It would be rather curious, His Excellency continued, to mix arithmetic with theology. He thought the boys should find their religions instanc- tion somewhere else." (Mail). Dr. Eitel next referred of the Morrison scholarship in his address to the boys; "He understood that for the present the scholarship con- nected with the name of a Christian gentleman, the Rev. Dr. Morrison, was to be given year after year without re- ference to any religion whatever, but solely on the result the examination. He would encourage the boys to strive to acquire knowledge, for knowledge was power, and he hoped they would contribute to the restoration of the ancient grandeur in China." (Mail.)
The Editor of the China Mail on February 1st wrote a long leading article on the education-question with the heading "Secnlar Education." "The speech, he says, of His Excellency Sir Arthur Kennedy on Friday last both justi- fies a fresh allusion to the topic, and suggests to us cer- tain considerations, which seem to us worthy of the atten- tion of the Government." Then he states the condition of
25
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.