1933-03-30 — Page 7

The Problem Of Education

In Hong Kong

INTERESTING ADDRESS BY FATHER

BYRNE AT UNIVERSITY EDUCATION ·

SOCIETY

SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE DUAL

LANGUAGE DEMAND

An interesting addrate was given by Fathar G, Byrne, S.J., at the University Education. Society, the subject being “The Problem of Education in Hong Kong."

Father Byrne, prefaced his addreis with a referance to Pro- fessor Forster. He said:-I regret that Professor Forster, whom I am called upon to replace this evening, is not with us to let us have the benefit of his ideas on Education in Hong Kong. He has contributed to the Educational Year Book for 1933 an article pr the subject which, I am sure, is full of interest. The Year Book has not yet reached me. I have chosen the subject as it ought to be a fruitful one for discussion.

Speaking on "The Problem of English, modern ideas respecting Education in Hong Kong," Father history and geography, and the Byrno said:-To our University cultivation of their own language by Education "Society no educational Chinese students." Of the prevail. question should be a more actual ing Grant system he wrote: The one than the question of Education system of giving grants which had in Hong Kong; netual because it been

unashamedly by re

is at our doors-our front doors, atsulta was brought fest in our moments of theoretical with modern tease into accord

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 1933

CORRESPONDENCE

All letters intended jer puoli.

SWATOW NOTES

cation must be accompanied by the Local Quota to National

name and addren of the writer, not for publication, unlers to desired, but as evidence of good faith-Ep.j

́S. P. C. A.

(TO THE ADITOR OF THR " HONG KONG DAILY PRESS."]

DEAR SIR,-In January the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children opened an office' in the Western District at 19, Pokialam Rond, in order that there might be, some place conveniently situated 'at which mothers in the congested western district might call and kring their children to see the Inspector. Ju January over 400

Budget-

TREASURY BONDS ISSUED

(From Our Own Correspondent)

Swarow, March 27.

Swatow is to contribute $00.000 as its share towards making up the deficiency in the Kwangtung Pro- vinoe National Budget."

The money

is being raised by the

mothers called at this office and in issue of Treasury Bands, and is February nearly 500.

governed by certain regulations,

avery

(1) Alt Tax Offices (run by mono-` poly) are to take up bonds up to

This obviously effects great saving of the Inspector's time and enables her to keep her cases under much closer mpervision and therefore the executive Como for every $100.capital paid for mittee decided to open another the monopoly. office in the Eastern district. The Central Office at Chung Tin Build- ing has now been closed.

Future reports of cases requiring attention aluld be made to "The

Inspector, 49. Pokfulam Road, 1st floor" or "The Inspector, 248, Lockhart Road, 1st floor." or "The Inspector, 20, Jordan Road, Kow.

loon. Yours faithfully.

T. M. HAZLEBIGG Mon. Secretary. Hong Kong, March 29, 1933,

The Curriculum,

idealism, our back doors, perhaps, Eighteen years have passed and † will of his pupils.” if one of those unpleasant touring to others, we may say, Mr. Irving's Expert were to fix it on his cul- measures have appeared unasham- tural topographical inap. Such an edly utilitarian They, too, have that the Junior Examination bad Since its institution it would seem Expert would say that tinkering is gone. It is thus that Hong Kong, a good deal bo do with the orienta abook yard occupation and that as mast other places, has its edution of the Secondary School cur- our system was obviously a tinkercational problem, or, to be more ac-riculum. In 1924, as we saw, Mr.

ed one. A murmur of dissent might readily be checked by a stray quo tation from Chaucer:-

This little child, his little booke

learning, As he sat in the school in his

primer

His O Mina Ratcmptori hearde

sing.

As children learned her anti-

phoner;

5

And, as he durst, he drew him

nigh.and near, And hearkened to the wordes

and the note, Till he the firste verse could say

by zote."

·In Far Off Days. He could turn to the pages of the report of a former Director of Education in the. Colony, Mr. Irving, and cynically read the words the existing policy of the Government (ia, in thqififties) had as its key-note proselytising rather than education."

curate, problems.

In the words which we havo quoted from Mr. Irving's Report, he puts his finger on the problem of education in Hong Kong, the teaching of English and the culti ration of their own language by Chinese students." It whe a baby problem in 1880, by 1914 it had grown to respectable proportions: Mr. Irving writes: "Thus at the very outseb we are committed to the establishment of English Schools for Chinese, not as a normal ob ligation but as a commercial reces aity" and "another axiom on which our educational policy rests, is that Chinese are not educated unless they possess a reasonable facility with their own written language." It is worth noting that the Direc tor who throw up his hands in horror at the "giving granie `au- ashamedly by results is, in 1910, himself behind a Code which offers Grants for successes at the Senior, Junior, and Freliminary Oxford Local examinations. It is hard for any of us not to cherish the son viction that my doxy is ortho. doxy."**

Mr. Orme's First Report.

Orme considered a suitable curri- calum problem of the future. This year has killed the Junior, and proposes a wider type of curri culum. What will be the result? This is one of the questions open to your discussion this evening: we hope that as futare members of the Tenching Profession you will let us have the interesting expression of your own sufferings or triumphs due to the surriculum which has helped to bring you so far.

But the core of the problem soems to be rightly placed by Mr. Orme in the character of the teacher and his methods rather than in the actual books which the school puts aside, not altogether regretfully, with the label taught.

It seems to be a common opinion in Hong Kong that, with a fairly early start, or, let us say with the pari passu system, English is an oasier aigaage to master than Chinese for the Chinese student. In fact, in the memorandum from which I have quoted, Mr. Wco writes: To acquire a fairly good knowledge of English would take at least eight years. With regard to Chinese the period prescribed in the vernacular schools for the completion of their courses is twelve years"

|

HYDRO-ELECTRIC PLANT NEAR ICHANG

-Sound Scheme Put Forward

(From Our Own Correspondent)

Idmano, March 18. Trere has been a proposal on foot for some timo to erect a hydro-electric plant somewhere up in the Yangtsze gorges not far above Ichang, the great shipping

centre for the Province of Sze- chuan, but so far nothing has been attempted although the schuime ia ed power could be obtained." a very sound one. Almost, olimit-

חי

The Kung Ling Bock,

The Kung-Ling Rock, the terror of the Gorges where so many ships have come to grief, is, we trust, shortly to disappear. For twù low water seasons engineers have been: Loring away. but the hard white quartz cock has almost defed the tirilla. However, the efforts" of the îngineers seem about to be re-

of this month to blast the rock with about ten tons of explosive, and Kung Ling will be no more the hair raising terror of the navigator,

(H) Landlords and property owners must buy #1 worth for all rents under $100. From $100 to $500 to purchase & worth. Overwarded. They hope near the end $500 and up till $1,000 to take up 86.

(III) The Chamber of Commerce shall take up $10,000 worth of bunds, part of which will be levied upon schools and public offices ac cording to their financial standing.

COLLECTING MONEY FOR TROOPS!

Chinese Charged with

False Pretences

Further evidence was taken by. Mr. Wynne Jones at Central Magis tracy yesterday in the case in which three Chinese are charged with a series of fraud in connection with the collection of subscriptions

from local residents and firms for Chinese soldiers fighting in the North,

The men were alleged, to have collected, - from Lam Shui Tin of 54, Queen's Road Central: (2) $20 from Chan Wah of 290. Des Voeux Road; (3) $90 from Quan Tong of 2, Pedder Street and (4) $20 from the International Trade Development Co. of Pedder Build ing.

Unlucky I

on

A woman selling arrowroot the street here this morning, in feeling in her pocket for change unfortunately let fall a revolver.

She was immediately arrested.

A Peaceful Place-With Incidents! As in so many places in China, executions are not infrequent, -bat on the whole Ichang is a peaceful place. The officials deserve praise for their splendid ruling.

REHABILITATION OF JEHOL

Communications System to be Improved

CHINESE CONCENTRATING IN CHARHAR

economic rehabilitation of Jehol Changchun, March 23. The has been started by the Japanese and Manchukuo governments, ac- Detective Sergeant F. Fowlie ap cording to an announcement of the paared for the prosecution and Mr.Manchukuo government to-day- MA da Silva represented the de- fondant.

Several of the subscribers told his Worship that the three defend.

Construction of highways between princiaal cities in that mountainous province was the first consideration in order to develop that province. They have started the construction

of · "roads between Peipino- and and Chengteh and between Chao- yang and Chihfeng, according to the announcement.

A telegraph line is being erected between Chaoyang and Ohihfeng They plan to connect all cities and big towns by telegraph and tele phone. With regard to the postal service, Manchukuo has taken over all post offices, it was announced: be stationed in Chengteh, Lingyuan, Opium purchasing agencies will Chaoyang Chilifeng, and other places. The opium cultivation tax will be reduced to 85 per mow, in expectation of an annual produc- tion of around 1,100,000 kilogram All indirect taxes collected, will be remitted to the Central govern ment, but the direct taxes will be applied to provincial expenditure, A customs office will be established. at Chengteh, while its branch offi ces are to be established at 40 points along the Great Walleter

• The "Manchúkuɑ government also BOOKS SOLD FOR A SONG andolinced that branches of the Manchukuo Central Bank would be established in Chaoyang Chengtet. and Chibféng. They will call in all banknotes now in circulation in that province.a

These days are far-off days. They were not without their battles and their bitterness which, happily, no Jonger trouble us. The Homeric. Schools, in which the "Chinose 3r. Irving had a long reign.

ants came to their offices and asked Elementary Books, their Classics, That the problems were not solved

for subscriptions on behalf of Chi Geography, and the English lan at the end of his tenure of office "Fairly Good Knowledge of

nese soldiers fighting in the North. guage is well taught by competent we gather from the first Report of

English?" Native Teachers; and in which 25 his successor, Mr.

whoOne feels inclined to put a big They produced books in which an Orme, eash a menth may replace the writes: "Our task, then, us note of interrogation here. It is an feared many names of supposed Master's dole of Tou," are no gards Government Schools, is to ob important note of interrogation in subscribers. After the money had longer frequented at 6.00 am. The tain an adequate and qualified star the whole Hong Kong Education been given to the defendants, a very buildings, for aught we know, and a suitable curriculum: as reproblem. What does one mean by receipt was randed back to them. are peacefully awaiting the pick yards private schools to give such a fairly good knowledge of Eng- Evidence of arrest was then given and shovel of some future archaeo-assistance as we may without unish" No European would lay by a Chinese detective who said logist, whose finds of Chinese duly limiting their freedom." Mr. claim to a fairly good knowledge of that on receipt of certain informa- characters and competently-taught Orme than dwells on the temptation the language of a country other tion he and a colleague, went to English script will prove to the for parents, teachers and pupils to than his own, if his knowledge 135, Des Voeux Road, and there scholars of the year 3,000, the pre-make of the school a short cut to meant a rather limited vocabulary. saw the three defendants in the act sence of bilingual savages on the the office stool, from which it an uncertain capability of applying of asking an accountant of the Wo island in the pineteenth century.

follows that the foundation of the the rules of grammar to written or Chan shop for subscriptions. When pupil's life, which can only be based spoken language, and the weird col- they came out, witness asked them Early Difficulties.

on an understanding of his mother lection of letters which even

if they had any permission from the Though the "coupelent teachers" tongue, will be descried for the Senior Dictation examination may Secretary of Chinese Affairs to col wers at work in 1858, the Board of more immediately profitable study reveal. It is not easy to appraiselect subscriptions. They replied in Education, born in 1860, was not of English, and second, external justly our own efforts at & language the negative, and witness took very happy about results. Their results will be sought in preference which has not mingled with our them to the police station. raport appears in the Government to real mental and morel progress" blood. This was forcibly brought Gazette, April, 1861. It is timid, It is to be noted that "whereas the home to me many years ago when as becomes the utterance of a new opinion of a doctor is readily ne French teacher of English in a born child. It runs: "The Board cepted as a test of health; the French school submitted to my re- cannot speak very favourably of opinion of a teacher carries little vision some of the exercises which tho English classes. The teachers, weight as a tent of education: yet he had corrected: to play a trick Indeed, are willing and attentive, it should form the true test. We on a person was carefully crossed but they need the counsel and can only say that if the teacher out, and replaced, in the margin, countenance also, of an Inspector, can once deserve and command the by "to put a trick on a peren Still the Board does not recommend confidence of the public, this test There are a few human beings gift for any considerable change in the ar-will be possible and wa half he who seem to have a rangements of this department, for earn adition of the problem.". language"; the most the average the coming year." Dr. Legge was

man can do is to accuire à respect- Chairman of the Board, which was.

nhle working knowledge of one. Kelly Boyce's Bookstore in ice abolished after five years' existence.

The further question arines House Street, was thronged with In 1879 wo find Dr. Eitel directing

thould the task of learning the Chi-purchasers yesterday when the. ** commercial "necessity or of ulnese language so that a Chinese boy books and the furniture in the the Government educational policy, tural aspiration, the parise of 18 might acquire the same pro place were old by public auction, as Inspector of Schools. He was opposed to State Schools. On stem was adopted. This abeant ficiency in his language as an Eng

"that "at an early stage the pupil | lish boy of 18 in his, really demand

Huge parcels of novels and other many points he could not agree mixed up parding and analysis] an Extra four years of study 1 It books were knocked down for of Jehol recently, according to

with Dr. Wright, the Headmaster

The Dual Language Problem.

To meet the dual languagé de mand, whether it be the dutcome of

The case was then adjourned.

AUCTION AT KELLY SAYCE'S

STORE.

postcards and magazines were sold a dollar or two, while stocks of for next to nothing.

of Queen's. College. Mrrying characters. The results do not seem cationalists among the Chinese an with the pictoral beauty of the would seem that raany modern edu thus comments on the situations to have been happy. I quote from swer the question in the negative "Education in the Colony became the memorandum of Mr. They cattend that it was so, dwingSecond hand dealers were to a thing of divided coumels for many drawn up two years ago: The to faulty methods of teaching, but years, and though the system no

evidence when, the furniture and

|

:-) Meanwhile, the Japanese Army plans to despatch an investigating party soon to prospect for coal and ail.

Chinese "Troops in Charhar,

approximately 30,000 Chinese troops Jend City, March 23-There are in Charhar, who were driven out

Japanese reports. One tavalry bri-

Ionger exists some of its evil effects inconsistency of the system lies in whist making due allowance for bookcases"raine to be sold for a chance to attabic the Jad

Hauch Lang's northeastern army gade belonging to Marshal Chang General Bung Tien Ying's men and large number of Voluntocrater now concerntrating at: "Do Paochang and Heyuan Wate this that, whereas a student is not the chartetors versus an "alphabet: are hardly obliterated strong admitted to an English class unless of letters, there should not be The suction brings to an end and recover the lost words for one writing 18 years after his knowledge of Chinese Teaches such a disproportion the divided policy must have sensed, a certain standard, he is not bound

bookstore that had been a familiar, Hong Kong has been faced with part of Ice House Street for some hit interesting words for those who to use his endeavours to improve these problems since the optimistic years. The busmess beg want to get at the foot of educa- his knowledge of Chinese after he days of the fifties. She is still faced thirty years ago in tional problems,

has been admitted to an English with them. From time to time, she confiéjű Arcade →When Modern "Idear were Needed olids although he is expected to besbys hersell, yawns, examines auction some e-par- to the period when Mracter a Chinese class at the same the curriculdan muts new cost of depicting toe. Irving began to control the policy. tima

paint of her schools. When the 1000-1 This period Mr. Irving himself, After hig admission au student | paint weary off with the lapse of may and usually does, devote his years, she discovers that the old

calls the fourth poried of the His- tory of Education in Hong Kong extending from 1001 to 1910, A Committee of thres were appointed

real opergy to his English studios legend Neither teacher or pupil takes anj interest in a Chinese olas Out

to report on the stato of education part of the pupil his attendence,

the Registrar General Dr. Ho Kai; the Chinese Buh

aal" "Mr." Irving, They found the evil which bitt

condition of education in the On the par

Colony unsatisfactory. They em- energies phasised the need of introducing monto. drdi” methods in the teaching of only

never,really been tetill an education

ration sliscover an solution in

factors by the squ

one In Buch Inga nut Hong Kong Problem of

the

which we offer to your Saigon this evening.

Continues, on 4

Mot of

from

Since Co. | módate. Ang

and its vici Chin had

tish tempor Bitals for Bhunter

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