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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 19TH MARCH, 1892.
3. ATTENDANCE.-In spite of the great anxiety, which the Chinese continue to evince for the admission of their boys into the College, there is strong statistical evidence for the belief that a large number desire only to make an experiment of the study of English. For example, of the 269 admitted at the Chinese New Year, 72 or more than one quarter had left within three months; while of the total number admitted in the year, no fewer than 27 boys were satisfied with an experience of less than 30 days, several not presenting themselves on more than four or five occasions. This must be attributed chiefly to the age of the students. Young men, of 17 years of age and upwards, find. the discipline of an English College stricter, and the drudgery of elementary study more irksome than they anticipated; and they accordingly withdraw with more or less expedition.
4. LEAVE IN ADDITION TO HOLIDAYS.- -We continue the old practice, of the past thirty years, of recognising Chinese social customs, and give leave to boys on the occasion of their own marriage, or to attend a brother's wedding, to celebrate a grandfather's sixty-first birthday, or to perform funeral rites, &c. I desire however to draw the attention of the public to the magnitude, to which this practice of leave-taking has attained, in the hope that Chinese parents will protect this indulgence from abuse. In the past year, without reckoning sick leave, 20 boys had each leave for one month, 33 for three weeks, 60 for a fortnight, and 72 for one week. It should also be noted that 90 such applications were granted in the last three months of the year; which period, while it is the most important for preparation for the Annual Examination, appears to be specially favoured for Chinese ceremonies.
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5. ANNUAL EXAMINATION.-The Head Master holds an examination of all the boys in the College not only for prize purposes, but also to discover carefully the attainments of each boy that he may be assigned to a suitable place in the following year. The Inspector of Schools also holds an examination for the purposes of the Education Department. For the sake of the boys, the two examinations have been blended for the last ten years. Writing in 1886 Dr. Erret says in his report.
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"The system followed by me in examining the various classes of the Government Central School was virtually the same as that adopted in previous years, except that most of the papers set were "proposed by the Head Master (for the purpose of determining the award of the annual prizes and "scholarships of the school) and consequently the questions which the scholars had to answer at this "examination were of a more searching character than I would have thought necessary."
But previously in 1883 Dr. EITEL had written.
"The severity of the test applied lifts therefore the result of this examination beyond all comparison "with the results of the Grant-in-Aid examinations, even considering that at the latter examination "two thirds of the marks possible entitle to a pass, while at the Central School I passed at this "examination all who had made half marks."
By comparing then these two Reports of the Inspector of Schools we discover that the severe test of 1883 had assumed a more searching character in 1886. If further we compare the Examination Questions of 1886 with those of 1892 there is manifest in the latter a higher standard in a very marked degree. There has thus been during the past ten years a continuous steady advance in the standard of education in this institution. The first examination that I held, in January, 1882, is by the novelty of the circumstances impressed indelibly upon my memory. I am therefore in a position to state with confidence that Class III B is the highest class of Victoria College the work of which at all reminds me of what was done in 1882 by Class I of the Central School. There are now there- fore 150 boys in this College doing work of a higher standard than the highest of 1882.
6. RESULTS OF ANNUAL PRIZE EXAMINATION.-Of 709 boys examined 640 or 90.26
per cent. passed. Returning as I did from Europe within six weeks of the examination, I feel that I can speak more freely of the impression produced on me by the work done in this competition for Prizes and promotion. The first thing that struck me was the general high tone, in neatness of work, excellent writing, and great advance in setting down Mathematical work in a clear form. Dictation continues to prove itself a stumbling block, though the results in half the classes were very creditable. English Composition, presented by 382 boys, was pleasing in its effect. The Grammar papers, 599 in number, shewed on the whole remarkable intelligence in grasping some of the chief difficulties in the English language. The paper on Shakespeare by Class I. A simply astonished me, as it appeared to me that the replies to more than one question necessitated personal observation of actors on the stage; on enquiry I found that this was precisely the case, they had had the great advantage of witnessing a representation of the play of "Hamlet" at the City Hall. The work of the Upper School was above the average; Classes I. A and II. A maintaining a remarkably high character of work, together with excellent percentages. In the Lower School Classes IV. A. IV. C and VI. A. turned out excellent, intelligent work. The results in the Preparatory School left nothing to be desired. It must not be supposed that the masters and scholars of the remaining classes are undeserving of praise; with rare exceptions the work of classes, which have been only fairly successful gives evidence of careful instruction and the inability of boys to avail themselves of it appears to be due to the forced pro- motions, which are the natural consequence of the introduction into the College of 400 new boys, in the course of the year,
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