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# EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS
The Union Christian University cost 20,000 taels.
The temporary Committee of Management have completed the purchase of the University site, a piece of land measuring some 250 mou, outside the south gate of Chengtu. The purchase deeds have been made out in the name of a Ssŭ Hui, representing the four Missions concerned, i.e., the Canadian Methodist, Methodist Episcopal, American Baptist Union, and the Friends Foreign Missionary Association. As the second and third named are American Missions, a difficulty has arisen regarding the registration of the property. The Committee wished to register the whole property at this Consulate-General under the above name, afterwards dividing it into four portions and registering the shares in the name of each Mission. In view of the dual nationality of the owners, I did not think this would be advisable, as I did not see how it could be arranged that each Mission received a legal title to its share. At my suggestion, the native owners are being asked to make out four purchase deeds, the land being roughly divided into four portions. Each Mission will take one, which will be registered either here or at the American Consulate in Chungking.
As I have been in some doubt as to the attitude the Chinese authorities would adopt towards this University, the more so as the original idea of a central college, or "Chung Hsüeh Tang," for the scholars from the Mission primary schools throughout the province has gradually developed until the scheme comprises a university open to Christians and non-Christians, with a staff of professors specially engaged, and schools of electricity and engineering (the funds for the latter to be provided by the University of Chicago), I made it clear to the Committee of Management that I could not assist them with the registration of this property unless they would authorize me to inform the Viceroy of the purpose for which the land had been acquired. To this they agreed, somewhat reluctantly, and I therefore propose, when sending in the deeds to be stamped by the city Magistrate, to explain how the Missions have come to acquire this property. If there is to be opposition on the part of the Chinese authorities, it is better that their objections should be dealt with now than later on when the money is paid, and the Missions stand irretrievably committed to the scheme. As long as the secular side of the enterprise is not brought into too much prominence, and I have strongly advised the Committee to say as little as possible for the present regarding Chicago's share in the University—I do not apprehend that the Chinese will make any serious objections. I have already informed the Viceroy that the Protestant Missions are unifying their educational work in Szechuan, and that they propose to establish a central college in Chengtu, and the retiring Chengtu Magistrate has intimated to me that he is ready to stamp the deeds at once: the transfer fees will amount to over 1,000 taels. Unfortunately, the Committee cannot avail themselves of this opportunity, as half the members are away attending Council meetings in various parts of the province. As they are all to meet in Chengtu in a month's time, this furnishes one more instance of the unbusinesslike manner in which the Protestant Missions conduct their affairs.
When discussing this university scheme in a former Report, I said that the small number of students in the Mission schools prepared for a university course did not seem to warrant the establishment of such an institution, at any rate for the present. The Registrar's Report on the Union Schools of Szechuan, just published, would appear to confirm this view. Of junior primary schools, there are 26, with 388 boys; of senior primary, 11, with 187 boys; of secondary (middle) schools, only 5, with 120 students. In the latter class, the numbers are not increasing; the three Chengtu schools actually show a falling off as compared with the last three years' average. In the Report above referred to, I estimated the number of students now ready for an advanced course at fifty or sixty. I now learn, after careful inquiry, that there are actually not more than twenty students sufficiently advanced to take the course as given in the Government College at Chengtu. There is, I cannot help thinking, a growing tendency on the part of some of the Protestant Missions in Szechuan, notably those hailing from the American continent, to neglect the preaching, even the medical part of their work, for the more attractive and much less burdensome task of providing the Chinese with education on Western lines. The Roman Catholic missions in Szechuan, whose methods one is bound to admire if one cannot always approve, pay little attention to education, but devote themselves entirely to a purely religious propaganda, making the conversion of the young their special care. The China Inland Mission, whose methods approximate most nearly to those pursued by the Roman Catholics, and who are undoubtedly the most successful Protestant organization in Western China, adopt a similar attitude towards secular education; they are holding entirely aloof from the University scheme.
## Official Recognition of Mission Schools
At the recent annual meeting of the West China Christian Educational Union, Dr. Squibbs, of the Church Missionary Society, Mien Chu Hsien, related his unsuccessful attempt to obtain the registration of the Mission's primary school. The school being entirely under the management of native Christians and practically self-supporting, the curriculum and accommodation, moreover, complying in every respect with Government requirements, Dr. Squibbs had reason to hope that the educational authorities would not refuse to place the school on the official register. The local Magistrate and Director of Education were apparently prepared to do so, but the Bureau of Education in Chengtu, to whom the application was submitted, refused, quoting in support of their refusal a Circular from the Board of Education, dated the 1st November, 1906, in which the following sentence occurs: "No Regulations have received the Imperial Assent permitting foreigners to establish schools in the interior. In addition to those schools already established, no objection will be made for the present to the opening of others, but there is no necessity to register them, and their scholars are not eligible for official rewards." Viceroy Hsi Liang, to whom the matter was referred, was even more explicit. He wrote: "The Board of Education have laid down that missionaries may please themselves as to the opening of schools, but the question as to whether their pupils may or may not qualify to enter the Government schools has never been raised, and cannot, therefore, be taken into consideration. The Magistrate, in carelessly submitting such an application, acted in a most blundering manner."
## Government Primary School Sports
On the 5th November, the primary schools of Chengtu held their annual athletic sports on the grounds of the Provincial College. The mission schools did not join owing to the sports having been fixed to take place on a Sunday. They were, as a matter of fact, postponed on account of the weather to the following Tuesday. The sports, beginning at 7 o'clock in the morning, lasted until 5 in the evening, and were attended by most of the high officials and a vast crowd of spectators. A special stand had been erected for ladies, and a sign of the times was a notice prominently displayed at the entrance gate, "No women with bound feet will be admitted." The events included racing, jumping, gymnastics, drill, and a singing competition. The winners received medals, books, various articles of stationery, and towels! Most of the schools were in uniform, and the grand march past at the end of the day, in which some forty schools, numbering nearly 4,000 boys, took part, was an impressive and significant spectacle. Each school carried its banners, many had their own bugles and drums, and those who had not were played past the saluting point by the Viceroy's band. The discipline and the hearty good-will with which even the smallest boys entered into the affair was most remarkable. Among the schools taking part were two Mahommedan, one Manchu, various Prefectural and district schools, and the boys of Chou Taotai's orphanage. These, to the number of 200, boys picked out of the gutters or rescued from the beggar encampments, carried off the palm for smartness and drill. Scrupulously clean, clad in yellow khaki suits, black forage caps, and armed with miniature rifles, they marched past in perfect order and step, and the manner in which the command "Eyes left," given by the diminutive commander as he lowered his toy sword on passing the Viceroy's stand, was carried out by his men would have done credit to a German "Garde regiment."
## The "Imperial School of Military Medicine"
M. Huet, the French naval officer whose unexpected arrival in Chengtu to join the staff of the Medical School I reported in my despatch No.25 of the 24 April last, left here in July on a flying visit to Europe. He returned, with a wife, in November. M. Huet will devote himself to an exhaustive study of the medicinal herbs and products of Szechuan.
Dr. Legendre, whose relations with the Chinese were latterly somewhat strained, will not return to Chengtu.
"Mission
Dr. Mouillae, the Third French Medical Officer attached to the
495
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EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS.
The Union Christian University cost 20,000 taels.
The temporary Committee of Management have completed the purchase of the University site, a piece of land, measuring some 250 mou, outside the south gate of Chengtu. The purchase deeds have been made out in the name of a Ssă o Hui, representing the four Missions concerned, i.e., the Canadian Methodist, Methodist Episcopal, American Baptist Union, and the Friends Foreign Missionary Association. As the second and third named are American Missions, a difficulty has arisen regarding the registration of the property. The Committee wished to register the whole property at this Consulate-General under the above name, afterwards dividing it into four portions and registering the shares in the name of each Mission, In view of the dual nationality of the owners, I did not think this would be advisable, as I did not see how it could be arranged that each Mission received a legal title to its share. At my suggestion the native owners are being asked to make out four purchase deeds, the land being roughly divided into four portions. Each Mission will take one, which will be registered either bere or at the American Consulate in Chungking.
As I have been in some doubt as to the attitude the Chinese authorities would adopt towards this University, the more so as the original idea of a central college, or Chung Hsúoh Tang," for the scholars from the Mission primary schools throughout the province has gradually developed until the scheme comprises a university open to Christians and non-Christians, with a staff of professors specially engaged, and schools of electricity and engineering (the funds for the latter to be provided by the University of Chicago), I made it clear to the Committee of Management that I could not assist them with the registration of this property unless they would authorize me to inform the Viceroy of the purpose for which the land had been acquired. To this they agreed, somewhat reluctantly, and I therefore propose when sending in the deeds to be stamped by the city Magistrate, to explain how the Missions have come to acquire this property. If there is to be opposition on the part of the Chinese authorities, it is better that their objections should be dealt with now than later on when the money is paid, and the Missions stand irretrievably committed to the scheme. As long as the secular side of enterprise is not brought into too much prominence, and I have strongly advised the Committee to say as little as possible for the present regarding Chicago's share in the University--I do not apprehend that the Chinese will make any serious objections. I have already informed the Viceroy that the Protestant Missions are unifying their educational work in Szechuan, and that they propose to establish a central college in Chengtu, and the retiring Chengtu Magistrate has intimated to me that he is ready to stamp the deeds at once: the transfer fees will amount to over 1,000 taels. Unfortu- nately the Committee cannot avail themselves of this opportunity, as half the members are away attending Council meetings in various parts of the province. As they are all to meet in Chengtu in a month's time, this furnishes one more instance of the unbusiness- like manner in which the Protestant Missions conduct their offairs.
When discussing this university scheme in a former Report, I said that the small number of students in the Mission schools prepared to a university course did not seem to warrant the establishment of such an institution, at any rate for the present. The Registrar's Report on the Union Schools of Szechuan, just published, would appear to confirm this view. Of junior primary schools there are 26, with 388 boys; of senior primary 11, with 187 boys; of secondary (middle) schools only 5, with 120 students. In the latter class the numbers are not increasing, the three Chengtu schools actually show a falling off as compared with the last three years' average. In the Report above referred to I estimated the number of students now ready for an advanced course at fifty or sixty. I now learn, after careful inquiry, that there are actually not more than twenty students sufficiently advanced to take the course as given in the Government College at Chengtu. There is, I cannot help thinking, a growing tendency on the part of some of the Protestant Missions in Szechuan, notably those hailing from the American conti- nent, to neglect the preaching, even the medical part of their work, for the more attrac- tive and much less burdensome task of providing the Chinese with education on Western lines. The Roman Catholic missions in Szechuan, whose methods one is bound to admire if one cannot always approve, pay little attention to education, but devote them- selves entirely to a purely religious propaganda, making the conversion of the young their special care. The China Inland Mission, whose methods approximate most nearly
to those pursued by the Roman Catholics, and who are undoubtedly the most successful Protestant organization in Western China, adopt a similar attitude towards secular education; they are holding entirely aloof from the University scheme.
Official Recognition of Mission Schools.
At the recent annual meeting of the West China Christian Educational Union, Dr. Squibbs, of the Church Missionary Society, Mien Chu Hsien, related his unsuccessful attempt to obtain the registration of the Mission's primary school. The school being entirely under the management of native Christians and practically self-supporting, the curriculum and accommodation, moreover, complying in every respect with Government requirements, Dr. Squibbs had reason to hope that the educational authorities would not refuse to place the school on the official register. The local Magistrate and Director of Education were apparently prepared to do so, but the Bureau of Education in Chengtu, to whom the application was submitted, refused, quoting in support of their refusal a Circular from the Board of Education, dated the 1st November, 1906, in which the following sentence occurs: "No Regulations have received the Imperial Assent permitting foreigners to establish schools in the interior. In addition to those schools already established, no objection will be made for the present to the opening of others, but there is no necessity to register them, and their scholars are not eligible for official rewards." Viceroy Hsi Liang, to whom the matter was referred, was even more explicit. He wrote: "The Board of Education have laid down that missionaries may please themselves as to the opening of schools, but the question as to whether their pupils may or may not qualify to enter the Government schools has never been raised, and cannot, therefore, be taken into consideration. The Magistrate, in carelessly submitting such an application, acted in a most blundering manner.'
Government Primary School Sports.
On the 5th November the primary schools of Chengtu held their annual athletic sports on the grounds of the Provincial College. The mission schools did not join owing to the sports having been fixed to take place on a Sunday. They were as a matter of fact postponed on account of the weather to the following Tuesday. The sports, beginning at 7 o'clock in the morning, lasted until 5 in the evening, and were attended by most of the high officials and a vast crowd of spectators. A special stand had been erected for ladies, and a sign of the times was a notice prominently displayed at the entrance gate, "No women with bound feet will be admitted." The events included racing, jumping, gymnastics, drill, and a singing competition. The winners received medals, books, various articles of stationary, and towels! Most of the schools were in uniform, and the grand march past at the end of the day, in which some forty schools, numbering nearly 4,000 boys, took part, was an impressive and significant spectacle. Each school carried its banners, many had their own bugles and drums, and those who had not were played past the saluting point by the Viceroy's band. The discipline and the hearty good-will with which even the smallest boys entered into the affair was most remarkable. Among the schools taking part were two Mahommedan, one Manchu, various Prefectural and district schools, and the boys of Chou Taotai's orphanage. These to the number of 200, boys picked out of the gutters or rescued from the beggar encampments, carried off the palm for smartness and drill. Scrupulously clean, clad in yellow khaki suits, black forage caps, and armed with miniature rifles, they marched past in perfect order and step, and the manner in which the command "Eyes left," given by the diminutive commander as he lowered his toy sword on passing the Viceroy's stand, was carried out by his men would have done credit to a German "Garde regiment.”
The "Imperial School of Military Medicine."
M. Huet, the French naval officer whose unexpected arrival in Chengtu to join the staff of the Medical School I reported in my despatch No. 25 of the 24 April last, left here in July on a flying visit to Europe. He returned, with a wife, in November M. Huet will devote in time to take Dr. Legendre, junior's, place in the school. himself to an exhaustive study of the medicinal herbs and products of Szechuan.
Dr. Legendre, whose relations with the Chinese were latterly somewhat strained, will not return to Chengtu.
"Mission
Dr. Mouillae, the Third French Medical Officer attached to the
495
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