No_1_May_and_June__1953 — Page 47

PRIMARY SCHOOL IN KOWLOON

Photograph of the new school.

made reference to the fact that the Government's Education De-

t

TH

kant

latter part of 1950; it contained a higher primary section for about 110 pupils and was regarded as an extension to the Shamshuipo School. The new school replac- ing it, however, contains 12 class- rooms and will be able to accom- modate about 1,000 pupils in two sessions. The school authorities hope to admit about 500 children from amongst those living in the large number of squatter huts in the immediate neighbourhood. It is also interesting to note that, apart from providing normal primary education for poor children, the school will attempt a different type of practical instruction electrical work, carpentry, print- ing and plumbing work for boys, and needlework, machining, laun- drywork and child-care for girls.

in

The site for the new school lies just off Taipo Road, on the corner HE new C.M.S. St. Thomas' been abnormally increased be- of Namchang Street and Berwick School, cause a sheltery increase School, situated in Namchang cause of shelter that has been Street, and covers an area 140'0" Street. Shamshuipo, was opened given to a very large number of by 68'0"; as the ground was ori- on 2nd May by the Hon. R.B displaced persons.

ginally fairly flat, site formation Black, Colonial Secretary. During the opening ceremony, Mr. Black the Chinese, Mr. Black said, that

It is a notable characteristic of work involved was very small.

they value education highly, and

The school occupies an L-shaped the desire for education amongst building of three storeys, in the partment was faced with a very them is not just for something angle of which is a large cement great problem, and was attempt that will lead to a materialistic paved playground. The entrance ing its solution resourcefully and energetically. It is indeed for goal, enabling their children to is from Namchang Street and on tunate in the assistance which it secure a livelihood and possibly the ground floor there are 4 class- is receiving from voluntary or- but also because

improve their position in society, rooms and an office with store. they regard Leading to the upper floors are ganisations and not the least from

education as a means to better two staircases, one the Missionary bodies, which have understanding. Schools, therefore, located internally near the en- played such an important part in must have a spiritual and ethical trance, and the other being an ex- the field of education from the impulse, and it is fortunate that ternal staircase at the northwest early days of this Colony, with the the Church Missionary Society has corner of the building. On each kind of devotion and sincerity been able, for so long, to play such of the first and second storeys which must always leave its mark an important part in developing there are 4 classrooms and a teach- on the social well-being and deve- educational facilities in the Colony. ers' room; the classrooms on the lopment of the people.

upper floors are located immediate-

of which is

The C.M.S.'s Day Schools were ly over those on the ground floor The problem of Hong Kong, as originally founded by Miss Baxter while the teachers' rooms lie over for other countries in this part of in 1865, under the name of Baxter the ground floor office and entrance the world, has been aggravated by Mission Schools; at present there hall. Adequate toilet facilities the disruption caused by the World

are seven of these institutions have been provided on each of the War and, even more disastrously, functioning in Hong Kong, the floors for both boys and girls. Ac- by the Occupation for very nearly oldest of which is located at Hol- cess to the classrooms and toilets four tragic years. The problems, lywood Road and was opened in is by covered ways overlooking therefore, have not only been 1876, the year after the three Bax the playground. those of restoring previous facili ter Mission Schools were destroy- ties, but of improving and enlarg- ed by fire following an epidemic ing them. This is not, of course, of plague in the Colony. the whole extent of the problem

since the War; in

War; in these latter The original St. Thomas' School years the normal population has was opened in a Nissen hut in the

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On the ground floor, the three adjoining classrooms are separated by folding doors which may be opened to form an assembly hall 69'5" by 20'0"; it was considered