7
33
learning English to induce boys to study their own language#
and 'Western Knowledge' are admitted to be experiments. It
can at least be said of them that they appear to be ingenious
and carefully devised; and they conform to the indubitably
sound principle that the Chinese should attain to some proficiency in their own language before they attempt to learn
English.
11.
You will observe that the adoption of
the Committee's recommendations will necessitate an increased
Expenditure on the Education Department. The total present
increase asked for by the Committee is nearly $35,000, a sum
which if added to last year's estimated nett expenditure
(nearly $70,000) represents approximately 2-1/3 per cent of
the actual Colonial revenue for last year. According to the
table given in Section 90 of the Report, a larger proportion
than that has been spent on Education in this Colony as late
as 1896. It must also be remembered that $60,000 does not now
represent nearly as much productive expenditure on Education
as it did a few years ago. The total increase necessitated
by the new scheme appears to me to be very reasonable when
the far-reaching improvements which it is designed to effect
are taken into account.
12.
To suppose that the adoption of the new
scheme will immediately bring about an educational transformation in Hongkong, or that each recommendation made by the
Committee is the one true solution of the particular problem
with which it professes to deal, would be to expect too much. I
7
33
learning English to induce boys to study their own languag#
and 'Western Knowledge' are admitted to be experiments. It
can at least be said of them that they appear to be ingenious
and carefully devised; and they conform to the indubitably
sound principle that the Chinese should attain to some profi-
ciency in their own language before they attempt to learn
English.
11.
You will observe that the adoption of
the Committee's recommendations will necessitate an increased
Expenditure on the Education Department. The total present
increase asked for by the Committee is nearly $35,000, a sum
which if added to last year's estimated nett expenditure
(nearly $70,000) represents approximately 2-1/3 per cent of
the actual Colonial revenue for last year. According to the
table given in Section 90 of the Report, a larger proportion
than that has been spent on Education in this Colony as late
as 1896. It must also be remembered that $60,000 does not new
represent nearly as much productive expenditure on Education
as it did a few years ago. The total increase necessitated
by the new scheme appears to me to be very reasonable when
the far-reaching improvements which it is designed to effect
are taken into account.
12.
To suppose that the adoption of the new
scheme will immediately bring about an educational transforma-
tion in Hongkong, or that each recommendation made by the
Committee is the one true solution of the particular problem
with which it professes to deal, would be to expect too much.
I
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