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prond. But it will surprise you very much if I say that I have till now related only a part of the Brothers' work. The Christian Brothers have done more than simply comply with the regulations of the grant-in-aid scheme: they teach in the St. Joseph's College subjects which are not required by the grant-in-aid scheme. The grant-in-aid scheme only requires six classes, and in St. Joseph's College you will find a seventh class, a superior class which is called the special class, in which the boys are prepared for higher studies and qualified to compete when Four Excellency will be pleased to realize that beautiful idea which you mentioned the other day at St. Paul's College, of selecting by competitive examination from the several schools in Hongkong, some youths to be sent home at the expense of the Government to pursue their studies at the University. Besides the rudiments of botany, engineering, physics, and other sciences, being taught in the special class, the study of the English Classics and English composition are especially insisted upon. Some years ago Sir John Pope Hennessy, on the occasion of a distribution of prizes, remarked that the Portuguese boys were rather weak in composition. The good Brothers took up the matter and they found out the defect was coming from not training the boys to composition in the lower classes. Their efforts have succeeded and now we have Portuguese boys who can compete with English boys in the knowledge of English language. The result of the examination, joined with that held for the two Belilios' scholarships, which the Committee very kindly allotted to St. Joseph's College, can bear witness to it. I received a note from the Secretary of the Scholarships' Committee in which, speaking of the examination held by Dr. Eitel, he says: "Dr. Eitel is both surprised and pleased at the boys' knowledge of Shakespeare, Milton, &c.” When we consider that the competitors were all Portuguese boys, not sixteen years old, we can look upon it as a very high compliment to St. Joseph's College. It is our conviction, and we think we are right, that as long as a non-English boy has to think in his own native language, and from it translate in his mind into English, he will never write good English. We must think in English first if we want to write true English. Now when we consider that we are in a British colony, and that the majority, if not all, of our pupils have been born in Hongkong, and therefore are British subjects, and that they will get their livelihood principally from the result of the British trade, the study of the English language becomes of the highest importance. Moreover, as your Excellency said in your excellent speech which you made here some months ago, and repeated again at St. Paul's College the other day, the English language is the most universal language of the world and one who knows English can be understood in every part of the world he goes to. Therefore, the study of the English language must be the special feature, the essential constitution of the curriculum of St. Joseph's College. But on the other side, the Directors of St. Joseph's College do not exclude the study of other languages than English. Extra classes, not required by the grant-in-aid scheme, are kept in St. Joseph's College, which afford opportunity to the boys to learn music, drawing, and languages, such as Portuguese, French, and Chinese, and this year we intend to open a class for Latin. The Christian Brothers endeavour to comply with all the possible wants of the boys' education, and in gratifying as far as possible the different people's tastes which are so well described by an Italian poet:
"Diversi sono i gusti e gli appetiti
A chi piace la torta e a chi i pasticci." To give you a proof of the Christian Brothers' earnestness in meeting all possible wants of their pupils, in July last, six months ago, I came to the College and went round the different classes, when I saw a great number of little children, five or six years old, in the lowest classes, and on inquiring why they had been admitted so young into the College I was informed that those little men came strongly insisting upon their being admitted into the College to learn English. It appears that those little ones strongly felt the magical power of that flag which was floating over the place where, for the first time, they opened their eyes to the light. They felt in a word that they were British subjects, and they were proud of it. But unfortunately those little things did not know a word of English. The Directors took compassion on them and kindly appointed a Portuguese teacher to the two lower classes to enable them to understand the lessons which are given in English. The Portuguese teacher is very well qualified. Besides thoroughly knowing his own language, Portuguese, which he learnt with perfection from the European Jesuit Fathers, he is quite conversant with English, French, and even Latin. Now it is to be supposed that these boys will remain two or three years in the lower classes, and will know English enough, when they shall pass into the fourth class to understand the lessons in English and to try their little composition in English. The Portuguese teacher attached to the College is ready also to give extra lessons in Portuguese to any of the boys in the superior classes who should want to study it, not interfering, however, with the hours of the English school. The boys are kept in the classes not quite five hours. Four hours are not enough to teach them all the subjects required by the grant-in-aid scheme in the superior classes. Half an hour is taken for the Catechism, as it is the practice in the Catholic Schools; but extra lessons in Portuguese can be given, as it has been offered to them more than once, during the long recreation at noon, or after four o'clock, when the school for English is over. Of course in such a case the parents are expected to pay a little extra, but that would be a trifle. The Mission has expended so much for the education of the Catholic youth, and our good Father Burghignoli even now is spending money in providing decent clothes, and even shoes, to the poor boys to go to school, and it can be reasonably expected that the parents will pay a little extra. But, ladies and gentlemen, I am afraid I have intruded too much on your kindness and patience. I conclude by assuring you all, that education has always been, and shall always be, the object I have most at heart. I have worked for it for 26 years, and I have grown old on account of it. To it I will devote my last years. My ambition, if you want to know it, is to provide my flock with a school in which not only the rules of our church could be complied with, but such a school which should be second to no other school in Hongkong. St. Joseph's College is growing and growing every day; the number daily increasing of the pupils, the patronage from all classes afforded to this school in giving prizes, the allotting of two scholarships by the Committee, and your large attendance, testify to the public that not only the majority, but the whole community is satisfied with the education imparted at St. Joseph's College. St. Joseph's College is gradually becoming the centre of learning for our youth; and since your Excellency spoke a great animation has been remarked among the pupils. Here in this College our boys started last year a small but interesting newspaper in English, written and conducted by them. Here they are contemplating a Debating Society in English and a Library with good English books. I account all this as a result of your Excellency's recommendation of studying English and to your patronage. Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you all with my whole heart and I send my thanks over to Mr. Belilios for his scholarships and to the Committee for having this year allotted two of them to St. Joseph's College, and in the expectation that many others might follow the good example of Mr. Belilios. I assure you again that St. Joseph's College will always be an Institution of which our community might be proud.
H. E. THE GOVERNOR said:-Monsignor Raimondi, Mr. Director, and gentlemen, I received so hearty a welcome on my first visit to St. Joseph's College last July, and I derived so much satisfaction from all that I saw on that occasion, that I gladly accepted the invitation of your excellent Bishop to preside at the interesting occasion of the annual distribution of prizes. (Cheers.) Before performing that agreeable task, I wish to address a few words to my young friends, the pupils of this College, which I desire them to regard as supplementary to the brief address which I delivered on my former visit. I congratulate all those who have been successful in winning prizes at the recent examinations. At the same time I exhort those who have failed on the late occasion to try again with fresh spirit on the next occasion. And let not those young men, nor let their parents think that the unsuccessful competitors have gained nothing by the struggle through which they have passed. They may rest assured that though they may not have...
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prond. But it will surprise you very much if I say that I have till now related only a part of the Brothers' work. The Christian Brothers have done more than simply comply with the regula tions of the grant-in-sid scheme: they teach in the St. Joseph's College subjects which are not required by the grant-in-aid scheme. The grant-in-sid scheme only requires six olasses, and in St. Joseph's College you will find a seventh class, a superior class which is called the special class, in which the boys are prepared for hi ber sta ies and qualified to compete whən Four Excellency will be pleased to realize that beautiful idea which you mentioned the other day at St. Paul's Colle,», of selecting by com. petitive examination from the several schools in Hongkong, some youths to be sent home at the expense of the Government to pursue their studies at the University. Besides the rudi. ment of botany, en ineering, physio and other sciences, being taught in the special class, tha study of the English Classics and English com. position are especially insisted upon. Some years ago Sir John Pope Hennessy, on the oc- casion of a distribution of prízes, reinarked that the Portuguese boys were rather weak iu com- position. The good Brothers took up the mat- ter and they found out the defect was coming from not training the boys to composition in the lower olassea. Their offorts have succesded and now we have Portuguese boys who can compete with English boys in the knowledge of Enlish language. The result of the examination, join- ed with that held for the two Belilios' sobotar. ships, which the Committee very kindly allotted to St. Joseph's College, can bear witness to it. I received a note from the Secretary of the Scholarships' Committee in which, speaking of ibe examination held by Dr. Eitel, he says:--- Dr. Eitel is both surprised pleased at the boys knowledge of Shakespeare, Milton, &c.” When we consider that the compotitors were all Portuguese boys, not sixteen years old, we can look upon it as a very high compliment to St. Joseph's College. It is our conviction, and wo think we are right, that as long as a non-English boy has to think in his own native language, and from it translate in his mind into English, he will never write a good English. We must think in English first if we want to write true English. Now when we consider that we are iu a British oolony, and that the majority, if not all, of our pupils have been born in Hongkong, and therefore are British subjects, and that they will get their livelihood principally from the result of the British trade, the study of the Eng- lish language become of the highest importance. Moreover, as your Excellency said in your ex- cellent speech which you made bere some months ago, and repented again at St. Paul's College the other day, the En lish language is the most universal language of the world and one who knowa English can be understood in every part of the world he goes to. Therefore, the study of the English language must be the special feature, the essential constitution of the car- riculum of St. Joseph's College. But on the other side, the Directors of St. Joseph's College do not exclude the study of other languages than English. Extra classes, not required by the grant-in-aid scheme, are kept in St. Joseph's College, which afford opportunity to the boys to learn music, drawing, and languages, such as Portuguese, French, and Chinese, and this year we intend to open a class for Latin The Christian Brothers endeavour to comply with all the possible wants of the boys' education, and in gratifying as far as possible the different people's tastes which are so well described by an Italian poet:
"Diversi nono i gusti e gli appetiti
A chi piace la torta e a chi i pasticci." To give you a proof of the Christian Brothers' earnestness in meeting all possible wants of their pupils, in July last, six months ago, I came to the College and went round the different classes, when I saw a great number of little children, five or six years old, in the lowest classes, and on inquiring why they had been admitted so young into the Collage I was informed that those little men came strongly insisting upon their being admitted into the College to learn English. It appears that those little ones strongly felt the magical power of that dag which was floating over the place where, for the first time, they opened their eyes to the light. They felt in a word that they were British subjects, and they ware proud of it. But unfortunately those little things did not know a word of English. The
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Directors took compassion on them and kindly appointed a Portuguese teacher to the two lower classes to enable them to understand the lessons which are given in English, The Portuguese teacher is very well qualified. Besides thoroughly knowing his own language, Portuguese, which be learnt with perfection from the European Jesuit Fathers, he is quite conversant with English, Fracob, and even Latin. Now it is to be supposed that these boys will remain two or three years in the lower classes, and will know English enough, when they shall pass into the fourth class to understand the lessons in English and to try their little composition in English, The Portuguese teacher attached to the Col- logo is ready also to give extra lessons in Por- tu, nose to say of the boys in the superior classes who should want to study it, not interfering, however, with the hours of the English school. The boys are kept in the classes not quite five bours. Four hours are not enengh to teach them all the subjects required by the grant-in-aid scheme in the superior classes. Half an hour is taken for the Cathechism, as it is the practice in the Catholic Schools; but extra lessons in Portuguese can be givu, as it has been offered to them more than once, during the long recrea- tion at noon, or after four o'clock, when the school for English is over. Of course in such a case the parents are expected to pay a little extra, but that would be a trifle. The Mission has expended so much for the educa- tion of the Catholic youth, and our good Father Barghignoli eren now is spending money in pro- viding decent clothes, and even shoes, to the poor hoys to go to school, and it can be reasonably expected that the parents will pay a little extra. But, ladies and gentlemen, I am afraid I have intraded too much on your kindness and patience. I conclude by assuring you all, that education has always been, and shall always be, the oject I have most at heart. I have worked for it for 26 years, and I have grown old on account of it. To it I will devote my last years. My ambition, if you want to know it, is to provide my flock with school in which not only the rules of our church could be complied with, but such a school which should be second to no other school is Hongkong. St. Joseph's College is growing and growing erery day; the number daily increasing of the pupils, the patronage from all classes afforded to this school in giving prizes, the allotting of two scholarships by the Committee, and your large attendance, tostify to the public that not only the majority, but the whole community is satisfied with the education imparted at St. Joseph's į Colleve. St. Joseph's College is gradually be. coming the centre of learning for our youth; and since your Excellency spoke a great anima- tion has been remarked among the pupils. Here in this College our boys started last year a small but interesting newspaper in English, written aud conducted by them. Here they are contemplat- ing a lobating Society in English and a Libra- ry with good English books. I'account all this as a result of your Excellenoy's recommendation of studying English and to your patronage. Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you all with my whole heart and I send my thanks over to Mr. Belilios for his scholarships and to the commit. tee for having this year allotted two of them to St. Joseph's College, and in the expectation that many others might follow the good example of Mr. Belilios. I assure you again that St. Joseph's College will always be an Institution of which our community might be proud.
H. E. THE GOVERNOR said:-Monsignor Raimondi, Mr. Director, and gentlemen, I received so hearty a welcome on my first visit to St. Joseph's College last July, and I derived so much satisfaction from all that I saw on that occasion, that I gladly accepted the invitation of your excellent Bishop to préside at the interest- ing occasion of the aunusi distribution of prizes. (Cheers.) Before performing that i agreeable task, I wish to address a few words to my young friends, the pupils of this College, which I desire them to regard 49 supplementary to the brief address which I delivered on my former visit. I gratulate all those who have been successful in winning prizes at the recent examinations. At the same time I exhort those who have failed on the late occasion to try again with fresh spirit on the next occasion. And let pot those young meu, uor let their parents think that the uusuc. cessful competitors have gained nothing by the struggle through which they have passed. They may reat assured that though they may not hava
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