No_2_1955 — Page 55

ST. MARY'S

SCHOOL

AUSTIN ROAD. KOWLOON

Architects:-

Messrs. Leigh & Orange

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1

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A new wing was recently opened to the already large and extensive buildings of St. Mary's School. which is a grant school for girls in Kow- loon. The School was established in 1885 under the management of the Order of the Canossian Daughters of Charity.

The recently completed classroom wing looking from Austin Road.

"Historically speaking. St. Mary's Government established the North- had its maximum development dur- cote Training College. After the war. ing the 1920's. and that is as it the Rural Training College and should be, because it was in Septem- Grantham Training College were ber 1921 that the University of opened. In each of these, girls have Hongkong made its momentous de- been among the keenest applicants. clsion to allow girls to invade Its Nursing has also all along been wo- portals and thus gave them a chance men's sphere.

The

Almost 2000 girls are taught in the Chinese and English sections of the school and in the private school. There are 978 pupils in the Anglo- Chinese section where the medium of higher education. This provided "Meanwhile, several girls' schools of instruction is English, and 642 girls' secondary schools with the realized that for a large proportion pupils in the Chinese section where necessary stimulus to introduce ma- of those who did not proceed to the the teaching is carried on in Chinese, triculation subjects such as mathe- University a secretarial training was and English is taught as a second matics and science and also en- very useful, and provided it. language. Classes in the Anglo-couraged girls to complete their war years brought home to parents Chinese section cover the whole secondary education and, if possible, and girls the need for them to learn range of primary and secondary to enter the University as well.

the domestic arts, and these subjects education; in the Chinese section Most of these women graduates

have been given much attention since the classes range from Primary III have entered the professions and

the war. In addition to ordinary to Senior Middle III.

have done well, as doctors or teach- secondary schools offering these sub- ers, headmistresses or inspectors of jects, two technical and vocational schools, while a small number have schools for girls have been establish- entered commerce and Industry, in ed--the Po Kok in 1951 and the Ho administrative positions. In 1939. Tung in 1953, while a number

The School's annual report for 1953-54 showed that in the acade- mical field there was a 100 per cent pass in all public examinations the Matriculation, English School Certificate and the Chinese School Certificate. This was ап extraor- dinary achievement, the more praise- worthy because the School was con- ducted throughout the year in double session. while construction of the new wing was under way.

а

At the Annual Speech Day of St. Mary's School last December, Dr. Irene Cheng. Senior Education Of- ficer, made an interesting speech mainly devoted to the progress of education for girls in Hong Kong during her forty years of experience. A part of Dr. Cheng's address this occasion is reproduced here.

on

"A speech day at a girls' school leads us to ask ourselves these three questions: (1) Are the schools pro- viding the right type of education for the girls? (2) Are girls making the maximum use of their oppor- tunities? (3) Is society giving ade- quate encouragement to girls?

CHINESE

SECTION

USTIN

K

ROSARY CHURCH

KIL NO 4010

ASSEMBLY

HALL

*KIMBERLI

NISS

KIL

NO $17

KILNO

お花

MUT..

100

$ C A

L E

SEC A

KIL

11544

$

MAIN

BUILDING

NEW

* L LINO 1425)

EXTENSION

RO AD

Layout plan showing location of new wing.

of

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ENT MALL

PLAY

GROUND