OPENING OF KOWLOON SCHOOL.
The formal opening of the new Kowloon School, the munificent gift of Mr. Ho Tung, took place on Saturday afternoon at 4 o'clock in presence of a company thoroughly representative of the Colony and worthy of the auspicious occasion. His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, Major-General Sir W. J. Gascoigne, K.C.M.G., presided, and among others present were Lady Gascoigne, Mr. Ho Tung, Mrs. Ho Tung, and the two Misses Ho Tung, Hon. W. Meigh Goodman, K.C., Chief Justice, Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, Hon J. H. Stewart Lockhart and Mr. Stewart Lockhart, Sir Thomas Jackson, Hon. T. H. Whitehead, Hon. R. Murray Rumsey, Hon. C. P. Chater, Commodore Robinson and Mrs. Robinson, Hon. H. W. Trefusis, A.D.C., Rev. T. W. Pearce, Mr. Wm. Parlane, Mr. A. G. Wise, Acting Attorney-General, Mr. and Mrs. C. Ford, Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Tooker, Mr. T. K. Dealy, Mr. T. Sercombe Smith, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Piazzoli, Mr. B. James and Mrs. James, Mr. S. W. Ten, Mr. F. J. Badeley, Mr. R. F. Johnston, Mr. Norton Kysha, Mr. G. J. W. King, Hon. Wei Yuk, Mr. A. J. Raymond, Mr. A. H. Rennie, Mr. G. M. Billings, Messrs. Ho Fook, Ho Kam Tong, Leung Shin Kong, Fung Wah Chun, Lo Koo Ting, Yong Hia Pong, Choa Lap Chi, Wong Kom Fook, Lo Chi Jin, Pang Shan-chun, Sin Takfan, Chan Hewan, Leung Pin Chi, Tso Sin Wan, Lau Chin Ting, and Dr. Wan Tun Mo, Messrs. Lan Wan Kai, Yoen Lai Chuen, Kwok Siu Lan, Wei Lun Shek, Lan Wei Cheung, and Wei Long Shan.
The preliminary ceremony took place on the grounds outside the school in an enclosure set off with flags of different nationalities. Preparatory to the formal proceedings, a photograph of the company was taken. Afterwards, the Rev. T. W. Pearce opened the proceedings, and said—Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Ho Tung, the large-hearted, public-spirited donor of the Kowloon School, has done me the honour of asking me to take part in this afternoon's proceedings. Mine is the pleasing duty of saying at the outset, in a few words, which the Inspector of Schools—who is now on his way to Europe on furlough—would have said with more point, and to more good purpose, that your Excellency's presence here to-day, to perform this function of opening the Kowloon School, is highly gratifying to all friends of education in the Colony. To the Kowloon residents, the occasion that brings us together is specially auspicious. They derive much satisfaction from the fact that this building, the foundation stone of which was laid two years ago by Sir Henry Blake, is to be formally opened to-day by your Excellency. There is a phrase of Lord Brougham that has become historic—a phrase that has to do with education—"Let the soldier be abroad if he will, he can do nothing in this age. There is another personage, a personage less imposing in the eyes of some, perhaps insignificant. The schoolmaster is abroad and I trust him, armed with his primer, against the soldier." When we in this Colony link in our thought the soldier with the schoolmaster, it will not be that we may set the one against the other. It will be our pride to remember that so distinguished a soldier
WAS
Z019
so true a friend to the school-master. The school which your Excellency is to receive, on behalf of the Colony, from the hand of Mr. Ho Tung, marks a new departure in the history of education in Hongkong. It is a school to provide education for children of European parentage. The principle on which the school is based is that the plan of instruction must be suited to the station of the pupils, the views of parents, the genius of the children. Nationality, constitution, and inclination alike have been consulted. It is felt to be of the first importance that these children, destined we trust to remain in Hongkong and to occupy useful, it may be superior, stations here, should enjoy such advantages as this school is well-fitted to afford. This, sir, is the principle conceded by the Government, subject to the approval of His Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies. It would not be possible in the time allotted to me to trace the history of the movement extending over a number of years that has led up to this Kowloon School. That movement will form a not uninstructive chapter in the story of education in this Colony. It is timely, however, to remind ourselves that right views of education are developed gradually and that methods have to be tested step by step before they can be pronounced sound. When the British flag was first hoisted on this island, education of the kind contemplated in this school scarcely existed in the Homeland. Far-reaching changes and marvellous progress in this science have characterised the last sixty years. It is not too much to say that the whole system of primary education in England has grown up during the last sixty years. There is one point of comparison that suggests itself to me, and it will serve as an illustration of education in Hongkong. As I understand it, the law of England at the time when this Colony became a British possession is the law of Hongkong to-day, with such additions, changes, and omendations as have been found necessary from time to time as years have gone by. The course of education has been analogous. At an early period in the history of Hongkong, certain educational facilities were placed within the reach of all, and the school system established then has been maintained and improved
in a manner creditable for the most part to all concerned in its working, when the many-sided aspects of this question in a cosmopolitan a community are kept in view. Its advance has not been so rapid as some have thought to be desirable and practicable, the fact is due to conditions which rendered the problem peculiarly intricate. We believe the present school to be thoroughly up to date, both as regards the building itself and the instruction to be carried on within it; and we shall all watch with keen sympathetic interest the work of education on these new lines. Your Excellency, according to the request of the Government to make this a school for European children only, Mr. Ho Tung has put himself by imagination and sympathy in the place of a section of the community to which he does not himself belong. In doing so, he has, I think, set an example of broad-minded liberality which we shall do well to imitate. It is seemly and fitting that I make this acknowledgment. If Mr. Ho Tung consents that his school be for European children on condition that the Government builds at Yaumati a similar school for Chinese children, he does something to unite two sections of this community in good-will and kindly relations which I trust we shall all do our best to maintain. Education is a sphere where such relations can be cultivated to advantage. Let us say ungrudgingly and unhesitatingly that we will do our best for the education
We
of all, under the best conditions, even if like Mr. Ho Tung we have to give up something in order to accomplish our purpose. There
106
OPENING OF KOWLOON SCHOOL.
The formal opening of the new Kowloon School, the munificent gift of Mr. Ho Tung, took place on Saturday afternoon at 4 o'clock in presence of a company thoroughly represen- tative of the Colony and worthy of the auspi- cious cecasion. His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government. Major-General Sie W. J. Gascoigne, K.C.M.G., presided, and among others present were Lady Gascoigne, Mr. Ho Tung, Mrs. Ho Tung, and the two Misses Ho Tung, Hon, W. Meigh Goodman, K.C., Chief Justice, Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, Hon J. H. Stewart Lockhart and Mr. Stewart Lockhart, Sir Thomas Jackson. Hon. T. H Whitehead, Hon. R. Murray Rumsey, Hon. C P. Chater, Commodore Robinson and Mrs Robinson, Hon. H. W. Trefusis. A.D.C.. Rev. T. W. Pearce, Mr. Wm. Parlane, Mr. A. G. Wise, Acting Attorney-General. Mr. and Mrs. C. Ford, Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Tooker, Mr. T. K. Dealy, Mr. T. Sercombe Smith, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Piazzoli, Mr. B. James aud Mrs. James, Mr. S. W. Ten, Mr. F. J. Badeley, Mr. R. F. Johns. ton, Mr. Norton Kysha Mr. G. J. W. King, Hon. Wei Yuk Mr. A. J. Raymond, Mr. A. H. Rennie, Mr. G. M. Billings, Messrs, Ho Fook, Ho Kam Tong. Leung Shin Kong, Fung Wah Chun. Lo Koo Ting, Yong Hia Pong, Choa Lap Chi.Wong Kom Fook. Lo Chi Jin, Pang Shan- chun, Sin Takfan. Chan Hewan. Leung Pin Chi, Tso Sin Wan, Lau Chin Ting, and Dr. Wan Tun Mo, Messrs. Lan Wan Kai. Yoen Lai Chuen, Kwok Siu Lan. Wei Lun Shek, Lan Wei Cheung, and Wei Long Shan.
The preliminary ceremony took place on the grounds outside the school in an enclosure set off
with flags of different nationalities. Preparatory to the formal proceedings a photo- graph of the company was taken. Afterwards, the Rov. T. W. PEARCE opened the proceedings, and said-Your Excellency, ladies and gentle- men, Mr. Ho Tung, the large-hearted, public- spirited donor of tho Kowloon School, has done me the honour of asking we to take part in this afternoon's proceedings. Mine is the pleasing duty of saying at the out- set, in a few words, which the Inspector of Schools--who is now on his way to Europe en furlough would have said with more point, and to more good purpose, that your Excel- leacy's presence here to-day, to perform this function of opening the Kowloon School. is highly gratifying to all friends of education in the Colony. To the Kowloon residents the occasion that brings us togather is specially auspicious. They derive much satisfaction from the fact that this building, the foundation stone of which was laid two years ago by Sir Henry Blake, is to be formally opened to-day by your Excellency. There is a phrase of Lord Brougham that has become historie-a phrase that has to do with education "Let the soldier be abroad if he will, he can do nothing in this age. There is another personage, a personage less imposing in the eyes of some, perhaps insignificant. The schoolmaster is abroad and I trust him, armed with his primer, against the soldier." When we in this Colony link in our thought the soldier with the school- master it will not be that we may set the one against the other. It will be our pride to remember that so distinguished a soldier
WAS
Z019
so trae a friend the school-master. The school which your Excellency is to receive, on behalf of the Colony, from the har of Mr. Ho Tung, marks a new departure in the history of education in Hongkong. It is a school to provide education for children of European parentage. The principle on which the school is based is that the plan of instrue- tion must be suited to the station of the pupils. the views of parents, the genius of the children. Nationality, constitution, and inclination alike have been consulted. It is felt to be of the first importance that these children, destined we trust to remain in Hongkong and to occupy useful, it may be superior, stations here, should enjoy such advantages as this school is well- fitted to afford. This, sir. is the principle con- coded by the Government, subject to the approval of His Majesty's Secretary of State for the Co- lonies. It would not be possible in the time allot- ted to me to trace the history of the movement extending over a number of years that has ler! up to this Kowloon School. That movement will form a not nuinstructive chapter in the story of education in this Colony. It is timely, however, to remind ourselves that right views of education are developed gradually and that methods have to be tested step by step before they can be pronounced sound. When the British flag was first boisted on this island education of the kind contemplated in this school soarcely existed in the Homeland. Far-reaching changes and marvellous progress in this science have characterised the last sixty years. It is! not too much to say that the whole system of primary education in England has grown up during the last sixty years. There is one point of comparison that suggests itself to me, and it will serve as an illustration of education in Hongkong. As I understand it, the law of England at the time when this Colony became a Britial possession is the law of Hongkong to-day, with such additions, changes, and omenda tions as have been found necessary from time to time as years bare gone by. The course of education has been aualagous. At an early period in the history of Hongkong certain educational facilities were placed within the reach of all, and the school system established then has been maintained and improved
in a manner creditable for the most part to all concerned in its working, when the many-sided aspects of this question in to cosmo- politan a community are kept in view. It advance has not been so rapid as some have thought to be desirable and practicable, the fact is due to conditions which rendered the problem peculiarly intricate. We believe the present school to be thoroughly up to date, both as ra- gards the building itself and the instruction to be carried on within it; and we shall all watch with keen sympathetic interest the work of education on these new lines. Your Excel- lency, acending to the request of the Government to make this a school for European children only, Mr. Ho Tung has put himself by imagination and sympathy in the place of a section of the com- munity to which he does not himself belong. In doing so he has, I think, set an example of broad-minded liberality which we shall do well to imitate. It is seemly and fitting that I maks this acknowledgment. If Mr. Ho Tung con- sents that his school be for European children on condition that the Government builds at Yaumati a similar school for Chinese children į he does something to unite two sections of this community in good-will and kindly relations which I trust we shall all do our best to main- taiu, Education is a sphere where such relations can be cultivated to advantage. Les us say ungradgingly and anhesitatingly that will do our best for the education
We
of all, under the best condi ious, even if lite Mr. Ho Tung we have to give up something in order to accomplish our purpose. There
106
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.