Sessional_Paper_1903 — Page 530

No. 1903

38

HONGKONG.

A REPORT ON QUEEN'S COLLEGE..

MIDSUMMER, 1903.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT,

HONGKONG, 25th September, 1903.

SIR,-I have the honour to forward a report on Queen's College submitted to the Governing Body by the Examiners.

2. It appears to the Governing Body that the teaching at Queen's College should be so organized that a boy who has succeeded in reaching the upper Classes ought (with reasonable diligence and ability) to have acquired a fair knowledge of Chinese, a reasonably good knowledge of English, as it is spoken and written and printed, and ought to be able with considerable facility to translate from one language to the other. These attainments will be to him, in after life, of much greater value than a superficial knowledge of Algebra and Euclid, for instance, or long lists of tributary rivers, &c., stored away in his memory, till time effaces them.

3. Knowing Chinese and English, the literatures of both countries lie open before him if he pushes his studies, as opportunity offers, after he leaves the College.

4. The Governing Body do not undervalue special subjects but speak only of relative importance.

5. The Governing Body can well appreciate the difficulty some masters, who do not know very much English themselves, must have in imparting their know- ledge of that language to the boys in the lower part of the school. But speaking generally, they agree with the recommendations of the Examiners,

6. The question of suitable Readers is a difficult one, and the Governing Body is of opinion that it might be referred to the Committee now sitting to consider the teaching of English among other subjects taken in connection with the Oxford Local examinations.

7. Will you kindly authorise payment of the Examiners' fees.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

EDWARD A. IRVING,

Honorary Secretary

to the

GOVERNING BODY, QUEEN'S COLLEGE,

Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G.,

Colonial Secretary.