CO129-567-1 Education Department 8-6-1938 - 3-2-1939 — Page 79

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supervisor, much more rapid progress has been possible than would have been the case had a beginning been

postponed until a number of suitably qualified university-

trained teachers was available to assist in this work.

I agree with the Director of Education that it would not

be feasible to expect that the great majority of the

existing staff of Chinese school teachers could become

efficient teachers of physical training: the whole

tradition of Chinese scholastics tends in the opposite

direction. Only when the teacher class begins to be

recruited from a generation which has learned the science

at school will that be possible. In the meanwhile the

instructor engaged specially for this duty offers the

only practicable solution.

5. Though no systematic course in 'civics'

exists, matters of this nature are dealt with by regular

instruction through object lessons and talks on such

subjects as Safety-First. Geography and History are of

course regular school subjects, and the teaching is

devised on a graded plan suitable to the needs of Chinese

children.

6. As regards the question of compelling non-

Chinese masters and mistresses to study Chinese,

encouragement is given to such study at present by a

system of language study allowances and the award of

a bonus to those who successfully complete the course.

At present of a British permanent staff of about seventy

two have completed the full course for a bonus in Cantonese

and obtained the necessary four certificates; seven have

taken either one, two or three certificates, of whom one

is studying for the third certificate and the remainder

have given up their study; and three beginners are now

studying

Eista.!