108
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 30TH MARCH, 1878.
by the new Master on 16th April, that being the day when all the Schools will be re-opened after the approaching holidays. I-further append draft of a Schedule stating in detail the subjects of the proposed Competitive Examination, which might be published in the Government Gazette as an Appendix to the foregoing Notification.
With regard to the list of subjects which I selected for the proposed Competitive Examination, I beg to point out that I have chosen those books and subjects only which are taught in the Prepara- tory Class, and the Lower School of the Government Central School. But I have further to point out, that I intentionally omitted the subject of Arithmetic, as I am decidedly of opinion that an Elementary School embracing both the Chinese and English languages would be overburdened with subjects, and consequently unable to attain to efficiency in either of the two languages if time were curtailed by including also the subject of Arithmetic. I may add the further consideration, that among the Chinese people, who are as good at Arithmetic as any foreign nation, Arithmetic is not taught in the Schools, and that the national arithmetical instrument, the Abacus, daily used in every house of business in the Colony, and even in the foreign Banks, is not likely to be ever superseded by the European system of teaching Arithmetic. For these reasons, I propose to reserve the teaching of European Arithmetic for the Central School, and to exclude it from the Elementary Schools, outside the Central School, which may be established in future.
I have the honour to be, .
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
E. J. EITEL,
Acting Inspector of Schools.
The Honourable J. GARDINER AUSTIN, C.M.G.,
&c.,
Colonial Secretary,
&c.,
&c.
Minute by His Excellency The Governor.
Inform Dr. EITEL that I entirely approve of the recommendations contained in his letter of yesterday's date. The interest evinced by the villagers of Wong-nai-ch'ung in the teaching of English, and in the improvement of the Village School is most satisfactory.
J. POPE HENNESSY,
29th March, 1878.
No. 57.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
A Competitive Examination for the Mastership of the Anglo-Chinese Elementary School at Wong-nai-ch'ung, will be held at 2 P.M. on Tuesday, the 2nd April, at the Government Central School.
The salary of the post will be Fifteen Dollars a month, from the Colonial Treasury, and free quarters, and further Five Dollars a month from the community of Wong-nai-ch'ung.
Candidates should send in their names, with any Certificates or Testimonials they may possess, to the Acting Inspector of Schools, before Noon on the 2nd of April.
The limits of age for this appointment are 18 to 50 years.
The Examiners will be appointed by the Governor.
The subjects of the examination are detailed in the subjoined Schedule.
The Examiners will lay before the Governor the names of those Candidates who pass to their satisfaction in all the subjects mentioned in the subjoined Schedule. From the number of successful Candidates, thus reported, the Governor will select the person to be appointed for the present vacancy, but certificates of competency will be issued to the others exempting the holder, if competing for any future similar vacancy, from examination in the subjects mentioned under Articles I and II of the subjoined Schedule.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 29th March, 1878.
J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.