CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4] — Page 168

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

is too anon to draw out the course of the school

Hon. W. Keswick-It appears to me that if a competent teacher is sent out from home, such as it has been requested may be sont out, and if be is found all we hope he may be, the material will regulate the style of teaching. Doubtless the teacher will be competent for his duty if he has material on which to work, but if the children are of such a juvenile age as to be fitted only, with the exception of two or three perhaps, to receive the earliest rudiments of education, it is not likely these rudiments are to be neglected and Latin and Greek tanght, until the children are fitted by their earlier education for such advanced learning. I think it will settle itself when the teacher arrives, and it is seen of what class of children the school is composed.

The BISHOP-I may say Mr. Keswick's remark in Committee, whon we were talking of sending for a man, was that there should be as complete an education given as we possibly could give. I think we intend giving the best education pos- sible. Of course it will take time, years perhaps, to develope, but we cannot possibly say what branches will be taught until we see the man and the boys.

Hon. W. KesWICK-I propose a vote of thanks to the Chairman for presiding over this meeting. I am sure it is a great pleasure to all of us to have seen His Excellency the Governor on this occasion.

Mr. FORBES seconded. Carried.

His EXCELLENCY--Gentlemen, in thanking | my hoa, frloud and Mr. Forbes and yourselves for the vote of thanks, I may perhaps say this, that in the little paper to which the Chief Justice re- ferred, I observe a line or two which I think ought i to commend themselves to some of my bou, friends who are present. Fees and a Government grant- in-aid." Bays this little programvie, "if the latter! I can be secured in proportion to the expenses and the character of the school, would help consider- ably toward the support of the mastor. Sub- seriptions would have to be depended on to com- plete the sum yearly required." Now, His Lordship mentioned that about $2,000 has already been subscribed, and in reference to the functions of the committee I venture to say this to them, seeing upon that committee two bank directors and a balik manager, that I think į one of their functions ought to be to keep up the subscription to this school.(Hear, hear.) This school will have to be supported partly by subscriptions, partly by the fees of scholars, and the question arises, what can the Govern ment do also to support the school? Now, gentlemen, I think whoever draw this pro- gram no was justified in saying a Government grant-in-sid would be given to this school in pro. portion to the expeuse and character of the in- stitution, that is, in proportion to the cost and the results of the teaching. And then, if the school should assume, us I trust it will, not pre- ! cisely the character, as his Lordship said, of a Rugby or Shrewsbury, but a first-class public school in a first-class Colony-if it assumes that character, then it will be entitled to a considerable grant from the state. And I may take this opportunity of mentioning that though his Lordship told us that in this school there is to be religious touching, and that the Bible is to be read every day-not as I understand his i Lordship, that there is to be any particular part! of the day set apart for religious instruction only, but that it is to be mixed up with the whole education of the school-then I can only tell you, under instructions from Her Majesty's Government, that will be no impediment in future to a grant to this school.--(Applause). Speaking for myself as the head of the Govern- mont, I am in favour of education; whether it be secular or religious, as the Chief Justice said, education is a good thing and our duty is to sup. port it. In the grant-in-aid scheme it was felt there were two words to which objection might be fairly taken, and Sir Michael Hicks-Beach has instructed me to strike out those two words. You who are familiar with that schome will at once understand the effect of the change Sir Michael Hicks. Beach has introduced when I tell you it is to strike out the word "ole- mentary" and the word "secular." Every school in this colony can now obtain a grant, whatever is taught, provided the results of education in the standards specified by the Government are satisfactory to Government examiners. That I believe is really the pria- ciple which guides education not only in Eng land now, but throughout the greater part of the world, and on that principle I look forward to having the satisfaction of approving in time to come, and I hope speedily, a very large grunt to this school-(Applause).

The meeting then separated.

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