Sessional_Paper_1903 — Page 103

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study of the Chinese Written Language was entirely neglected, and in consequence scholars in the uppermost class were quite incapable of composing a few sentences correctly in their own language. Being what they were-schools professing to teach English-an equally serious fault was that from lowest to highest Standard the practice of colloquial English was almost entirely neglected. It was another weak point that the time devoted to Geography was by no means used, as it should have been, to implant those elements of general information or "Western Knowledge" which the youth of China lacks so universally.

The English Schools at Yau Ma Ti and Wong Nai Chung were smaller, but no less inefficient. Under the same roofs as the English Schools, but not other- wise connected with them, were the Vernacular Schools of Sai Ying Pun and Wan Tsai where instruction in the beginnings of the Chinese Classics was given, with a little Arithmetic, and in the Fourth Standard a little Geography. It was the excep- tion for scholars to pass from the top (Fourth) Standard of these schools into the English Schools adjoining; nor when they did so were their prospects of obtaining a valuable education very bright. The study of their own language dropped at the point where some use was just accruing from it: they might hope in four years more to have conned and perhaps learned by heart three School Readers, but not to understand an Englishman addressing them in the simplest phrases. The other Vernacular Schools were much less efficient,

Before my departure from the Colony in April the following changes had been made in the English and Vernacular Schools at Sai Ying Pun and Wan Tsai, now known as the Anglo-Chinese Schools of those two places:-

(a.) The English and Vernacular Schools were linked together in such a way, that the Vernacular School became the Lower School and the English School the Upper School.

(5.) A Fifth Standard was added to the Upper School. (Arrangements

have been made for the addition of a Sixth Standard in 1903.) (c.) In every Standard of the Upper School daily translation from English into Chinese and from Chinese into English has been insisted

upon.

(d.) Daily instruction in the Chinese Classics has been given to the Upper School by the Classical Master of the Lower School; while at the same time one of the Masters of the Upper School has taken the Lower School in Western Knowledge.

(c.) The English lessons to the upper Standards of the Upper School have been combined with instruction in current topics of general interest, such as the recent treaty with China.

(f) Colloquial conversation was practised to some extent in every Stand- ard of the Upper School, though it has not been given nearly as much attention in the lower Standards as I should have expected, had I been present throughout the year.

(9.) A Master and Supervisor was appointed for these two schools, Mr. YOUNG HEE, who has divided his time between them. The recom- mendation of the Committee was that "English Masters should be 'engaged.......................to supervise the work of the Chinese Masters." It was however considered desirable to engage the services of Mr. YOUNG, on the ground that while he spoke English naturally, having spent all his life in a British Colony, he was on the other hand a good Chinese scholar, a combination hard to obtain. Mr. YOUNG has shewn great zeal in the performance of his duties, and, although he has had no former experience of teaching, has greatly advanced his pupils.