316
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 6TH JULY, 1878.
14. The simple fact however is quite otherwise. Every boy in the Central School is taught English during four hours every day, a period which I think it impossible to extend with any good result. In addition to this teaching of English, but in subordination to it, the boys are also taught their own language by non-English-speaking masters; for I hold that no boy can master a foreign language without a competent knowledge of his own, unless he resides in the country in which the foreign language is spoken.
15. When I said to His Excellency that only 50 or 60 of the boys spoke English, I referred to those who had been some years in the school, and who were about to leave it on obtaining employment. When I used the word "imperfectly," I did so in contradistinction to the facility with which one speaks foreign language from actual experience in life, as apart from the slow and imperfect speaking of it hich one acquires by learning it only from the lips of a master: and I did not for a moment intend
suggest that none of the others knew anything of English.
16. In the "China Mail's" account of the proceedings already referred to, His Excellency is reported > have said, "I asked His Lordship when I came in this morning what was the number of Portuguese n the school, and what number left the school, able to speak English. He answered, first, that there 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 prevaili publication of this letter in next Satur may be au oritatively removed on the ea
I venture to request that His Excellency will permit the Gazette, in order that this serious public misapprehension
འ
t possible occasion.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most
vant,
ART,
Schools.
The Governor to the Colonial Secretary.
cretary was with me when I put the questions to Mr. STEWART about the ken in the double class-room where there were one hundred and fifty boys Chinese teachers, and about the amount of English spoken by the six hundred hole school for 1877, I should be glad if he would record his recollection of
J. POPE HENNESSY.
12th February, 1878.
Minute by the Colonial Secretary.
in
ven to Your Excellency by Mr. STEWART conveyed an impression to my mind e boys knew anything of English. Indeed when these figures were given
when + ng round to me, that he ch I understood Mr. STEWART to say,
SS.
in consequence I left the school with tion was being given in English, a of English of primary importance i ver, with Mr. STEWART that we lasses and a stronger staff of teac!
ression as to the and commercial
ults with more
NER AUSTIN, ial Secretary. 3th February, 1878.
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