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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2ND MARCH, 1872.
21. The problem which the school is working out for itself is whether it is to be one of elemen- tary instruction for the many, or of higher instruction for the few; that is, whether it is ultimately to be for the education of 900 or of 300, for a smaller number than the latter cannot be contemplated. It would be premature, at present, to attempt to solve the problem, and it might be disastrous to adopt, at once, either course, without waiting for, and taking advantage of, the current of events.
22. The only new subject introduced in 1871 was Mathematical Drawing. Not much progress The had been made, as the necessary materials did not arrive from England till late in the year. Music class still progresses, and the Chemistry class has been highly successful. To the Drawing and Music only one hour a week can be devoted; and this, taken in connection with the constant changes in the classes, prevents great or rapid progress. To the Chemistry class more time is devoted, and there is a corresponding result. The weekly exercises connected with this subject, and the papers written at the last examination by the boys who had been in the class for the whole year showed very clearly what could be done if the classes were more permanent.
The
23. Before another Report is written, I hope to see an entirely new building in the course of construction. No more progress can be made without increased accommodation, and that cannot well be obtained without a new school, built on recognized principles and, therefore, specially adapted for school purposes, which a great part of the present building never was, and never can be. expense may be a serious consideration; but if the school is worth retaining, and it has established its title to that, the money required should not be grudged, especially at a time when there are funds available which are not likely to be available long. As, however, this subject is receiving the consi- deration of the Government, it need not be further discussed here.
24. The school fees amounted during the year to $1,763.75, of which $1,511.25 went into the Treasury, and $252.50 to the salary of the teacher of the Preparatory class.
25. Nothing now remains but to express the thanks of all connected with the school to our Prize- givers. These were His Excellency the GOVERNOR, His Excellency the LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR, the Honourable Chief-Justice SMALE, the Honourable C. C. SMITH, Dr. DODS, Mr. KwOK CHEUNG, Mr. MOORSOM, Mr. RUSSELL, Mr. SAINT, and Mr. WAI KWONG, by whose donations, in addition to the sum on the year's Estimates, prizes to the value of upwards of $300 were awarded at the recent examination.
26. As previously stated, 1871 did not prove a very favourable year to the Village Schools. The number under instruction for the year was less by 40 than in 1870; and this, although there were two additional schools. The attendance, too, became very irregular towards the end of the This was attributable to two causes, the year; more so than it had been for the previous year. high price of rice and the dullness of trade. In all the villages the same answer was given, when Whenever it enquiries were made as to the causes of the decreased and the irregular attendance.
was possible for a child to earn a few cash by grass cutting, firewood gathering, or cake selling, he was taken away from school. In the most favourable years the poverty in our villages is something of which few can have any idea, but in a year, such as the last, when the staff of life is dear, it must be something very serious.
27. The Village Schools supported by Government stand in the following order of efficiency :-
1. Stanley.
2. Sai-ying P'ún (Pun-ti.)
3. Girls' School.
4. Bowrington,
5. Sai-ying P'ún (Hak-ka.)
6. Tang-lung Chau (Pún-ti.)
7. Webster's Crescent.
8. Aberdeen.
9. Tải Wong Kung,
10. West End.
11. Wong-nai Chung.
12. Sháu-ki Wán.
13. Tang-lung Chau (Hak-ka.)
28. Among these schools Stanley continues to hold the pre-eminence. If all the Village Schools were as it is, there would be much cause for congratulation. The master is a good scholar, a diligent and successful teacher, and he enjoys in a high degree the confidence of the villagers. The school- room is always neat and clean. The scholars are regular in their attendance and orderly in their behaviour. Á new school-house is much wanted here! The locality of the present one is unhealthy; and to this must be attributed one or two serious attacks of illness from which the master suffered last year. The whole village is said to be unhealthy and the death-rate high, especially at some seasons of the year. A new school-house on one of the knolls adjacent to the village should, if well drained and properly ventilated, be much more healthy than the present one.
29. The new school at Tái Wong Kung in Wán-tsai has been very successful; but, from the It has withdrawn a few of the fact of its being new, it is too soon to speak confidently about it. scholars from Bowrington and a great many from the Hak-ka school at Tang-lung Chau. The wanderers will no doubt find their way back to their old schools by and by; and, if they do not, no harm is done, as long as they are taught at all. If the children could but be got to attend any school, the particular school of their choice would be a matter of very minor importance.
30. The Village Schools receiving grants-in-aid are 11 in number. Their relative efficiency stands thus:-
1. Ap-li Chau.
2. T'o-kwa Wán, (Hak-ka.) | 6. Little Hongkong.
3. Yau-ma Ti.
4. Ma-t'au Ts'ün.
5. Ma-tan Chung.
7. T'o-kwa Wán, (Hok-lo.) 8. Hok Ün.
9. Mong Kok. 10. Hung Hom. 11. Pok-fú Lam.
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