Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 196

178

Report of Chinese Schools

MARCH,

“Arithmetic. The 1st class, of five boys, has advanced, in Con- versations on Arithmetic, by Mrs. G. R. Porter, to Application of Decimals; when, having only one copy of that work, and requiring it for a junior class, Walkinghame was substituted; in which they have advauced to Alligation. Although they take their sums from this book, and are expected to understand its rules, they are not confined to them—for instance they freely use cancelling, at which they are very expert; and when it is advantageous, they substitute vulgar or decimal fractions for the common notation. The 2d class, of two boys, now use the Intellectual Calculator of the B. and F. S. S. These boys were formerly in the 1st class, but not being able to keep up with it, they have been employed alternately as monitors to the 3d class, and consequently have not advanced as they otherwise would have done. Those of the 3d class, eleven boys, are in Division, and those of the 4th, of seven boys, in Addition.

“Geography. The six boys of this class have gone through, with mc-having only one copy-Guy's geography; and can answer most questions without hesitation. Their chief information has been gained from oral instruction, combined with the use of the maps-of which we have a fine set, about four feet square. One of these boys, with another who has left school, has worked all the problems on the globes in Guy's Geography, and with his class is now going through the more extended work of Keith. Several other boys are able to point out all the principal places on the maps, and possess much information about geography.

Drawing. Eight of the boys are copying the drawing exerciscs from the work published by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. Three or four have a decided taste for drawing. After holidays a new class will be formed.

"Miscellaneous. The boys of the 1st reading class know all the natural figures, both planes and solids. They have also read three or four of the first Conversations on Natural Philosophy by Dr. Johns of the Franklin Institute, America. We have an orrery and tellurium, by which the motions of the heavenly bodies have been explained to them, and apparently with some success in removing their prejudices in favor of Chinese knowledge.

"I have spoken only of boys actually present, for there are many of the 2d and 3d reading classes absent, through sickness, this island having been visited by some very severe epidemics, cholera, dysen- tery, influenza, fever, &c. Most of these boys have been long absent. and their return would greatly retard our progress."