Sessional_Paper_1902 — Page 487

21.

PART IV.

ADDITIONS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

58. In the preceding Parts of the Report the existing educational institutions have been described (Part I); the needs of the children of the Colony have been enumerated (Part II); and improveinents have been suggested, with the purpose of adapting these educational institutions to these needs (Part III).

The present system of education however is in want, not of amendment merely, but of enlargement as well. In the Colony, the British population has hitherto had no distinct part in the system of education, such as its numerical and intrinsic importance entitles it to. There is a very decided demand among the Chinese for a better education than can be obtained at present. A third direction

in which the educational system requires extension is among the inhabitants of the New Territory.

BRITISH SCHOOLS.

59. A recognition has already been made of the desirability of taking steps to prevent the children of British parents born in the Colony from growing up un- educated, or at best educated in undesirable surroundings. Correspondence on the subject is given in Appendix A.

It is not desirable to lay down hard and fast rules for the conduct of the British Schools until experience has been gained in working them. But the following suggestions are made.

60. One school should be established in Victoria and one at Kowloon.

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In the City of Victoria, the central position of the Belilios Reformatory with regard to the Naval Yard, the East Point Sugar Refineries and Quarry Bay indi- cates the building as very suitable for the British School, if it can be adapted to this purpose. It is true that children from West Point will have a long distance to go, but this is inevitable for some scholars wherever the school is placed. · The proposed electric tramway will minimise this inconvenience, which arises from the straggling nature of the City.

It has already been decided by the Government to limit the attendance at the Kowloon British School to children of British parentage. In this way the Kow- loon population is well provided for.

61. A boarding house should if possible be established in connection with the Victoria British School.

This provision will enable a number of parents to make use of the school who otherwise would have to seek another home for their children. It is likely that it will encourage the Residents of Canton and other Treaty Ports to send their children to Hongkong for their education.

62. All boys of sufficient age should be required to join a Cadet Corps, if the Military Authorities can arrange to form one.

A HIGH SCHOOL FOR CHINESE.

63. General sanction has been obtained for the formation of such a school in the correspondence given in Appendix A. But hitherto no decision has been arrived at among the leading Chinese as to the precise form which it should take.

The following points appear essential, if the school is to be of such a nature as to merit a place among the schools controlled by Government.

64. The school should be open to all Chinese of respectable antecedents and connections. 65. The fees should be fixed on a high scale.

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