54 THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 16TH FEBRUARY, 1878.
cannot be far short of 200 Portuguese trained in the school, and that all these, practically speaking, leave the school able to speak English more or less."
17. If His Excellency will take the same reply from me now, I can give it, without hesitation or reservation, as regards the boys at the Central School.
18. That more can be done at the Central School as it is, than is being done, to teach English, I believe to be impossible: that more could be done at the school as I should like to see it, than is done now, it would be impossible to deny: but, to reach that stage, the new school must be built, more accommodation provided, smaller classes formed, a stronger staff of teachers obtained, and a play ground supplied as the most practical of all forms of teaching the boys to speak English.
19. I have repeatedly referred to all these matters in my Annual Reports, but it is now necessary to repeat and emphasize them; and, as much evil must result to the school from the currency given to the impression that is now prevailing, I venture to request that His Excellency will permit the publication of this letter in next Saturday's Gazette, in order that this serious public misapprehension may be authoritatively removed on the earliest possible occasion.
I have the honour to be,
Sir.
Your most obedient Servant,
FREDERICK STEWART,
Inspector of Schools.
The Governor to the Colonial Secretary.
As the Colonial Secretary was with me when I put the questions to Mr. STEWART about the amount of English spoken in the double class-room where there were one hundred and fifty boys being taught by three Chinese teachers, and about the amount of English spoken by the six hundred and ten pupils in the whole school for 1877, I should be glad if he would record his recollection of Mr. STEWART's answer.
Minute by the Colonial Secretary.
J. POPE HENNESSY.
12th February, 1878.
The information given to Your Excellency by Mr. STEWART conveyed an impression to my mind that only 50 or 60 of the boys knew anything of English. Indeed when these figures were given in Your Excellency's speech I understood Mr. STEWART to say, when turning round to me, that he feared they were in excess.
I must confess that in consequence I left the school with an unfavourable impression as to the extent to which instruction was being given in English, as I hold that political and commercial interests render the study of English of primary importance in all Government schools.
I quite agree, however, with Mr. STEWART that we should obtain better results with more accommodation, smaller classes and a stronger staff of teachers.
J. GARDINER AUSTIN,
Minute by His Excellency the Governor.
Colonial Secretary.
13th February, 1878.
Send copies of these Minutes to Mr. STEWART, and say I should be glad if he would prepare an approximate estimate of the total cost of the whole scheme of Government Education, assuming that the Legislative Council will concur with Mr. AUSTIN in thinking that political and commercial interests render the study of English of primary importance in all Government Schools: and that as regards the principal Government School (the Central School) smaller classes be formed, and a stronger staff of teachers be obtained.
As regards providing increased accommodation, I signed warrants last year for over ten thousand dollars for this object, in addition to more than forty thousand spent by my predecessor; and in this year's Estimates, I have taken a further vote on account of the new Central School of $25,000.
No. 32.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
J. POPE HENNESSY.
14th February, 1878.
Applications will be received at this Office for the appointment of Fourth Master at the Central School during the absence on leave of the Head Master, Mr. STEWART.
Salary $120 per month and an Allowance of $30 per month for House Rent. Applications to be addressed to the Office of the undersigned.
For further particulars, apply to F. STEWART, Esquire, Head Master, Central School.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 15th February, 1878.
J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary.
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