CO129-534-3 Report of Retrenchment Commission 4-5-1931 - 19-2-1932 — Page 133

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the Directorship, be an unbiassed critic of his former

colleagues.

Nor is he likely to be free from prejudice

ainst educational methods other than his own, or against

the methods and organization of the denominational schools

in the Colony, which must necessarily be governed according

to the principles and financial circumstances of the

religious denomination to which they belong. It is essential.

that the Director should be above all party, broadminded, a

good administrator, and therefore a good disciplinarian,

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Knowledge of Chinese is also in the opinion of the

Commissioners essential. Without it the Director, in his

final decisions on educational and financial policy, is forced

to rely entirely upon the reports of the Vernacular Inspectors

concerning those schools in the Colony where Chinese is the

solc medium of instruction, and where the staff has 30

knowledge of English.

is basel on the Inspectors' reports, a Director of Education

who has no proficiency in Chinese necessarily takes upon

himself the responsibility of spending public money without

a personal knowledge, either of the principles inculcated

into the minds of the students, or of the methods of teaching

in these schools. This is an undesirable condition of

affairs especially in view of the fact that these students

number some forty thousand; which number is likely to be

greatly increased in the future.

As the granting of Government subsidies

5.

INSPECTORS OF ENGLISH SCHOOLS.

What has been said in regard to the qualifications

necessary for the Director of Education applies in very great

mocsure to the Inspectors of English schools.

Pacenicity is the sole qualification at present considered

It would appear