98
6. Chinese School, abolished in 1896, has at length been restored, five Ver- nacular Masters having been appointed by His Excellency from the 1st of January. During the past month they have been employed in marking Translations into Chinese, in examining boys already in the college with a view to their classification in Vernacular school, and in drawing up Time Tables and Regulations. By a scheme formulated by me last February, not only will there be the direct benefit from the study of the Chinese language but also there will be in English school the indirect advantage accruing from the transfer of masters from higher to lower English classes, while their own sections are pursuing Chinese studies,
7. In 1887 in the draft suggestions of the requirements for Queen's College, I included the appointment of a Normal Master. A few years later I applied for an allowance for this officer which was however refused. With the assistance of the Governing Body my labours in this direction have been crowned with success, and Mr. TANNER has been appointed Normal Master by His Excellency from 1st March until further notice. I have in my Annual Reports repeatedly borne testimony to the excellent work done by Chinese Assistants, who have acquired considerable skill in teaching, by laborious practice assisted by hints and advice given by myself. There can however be no question that the value of their services will be enormously enhanced by a course of carefully regulated instruction in the art and science of teaching.
8. At the Oxford Local Examinations the good results of the previous year were surpassed by the successes of 1903. 29 certificates were obtained by Queen's College boys-5 Senior, 9 Junior and 15 Preliminary. The mark G, next to Distine- tion, was obtained 40 times in 1903 as against 16 times in 1902. Of the 29 certi- ficates, 16 were awarded to Chinese boys. Three Chinese boys were placed by the Oxford Examiners at the head of the Senior list in this college, and six at the head of the Junior. In the Preliminary list the two brothers GALLEZI, by offering Italian in addition to the usual subjects, ank first, being immediately followed by three Chinese boys. The percentage of passes in Queen's College is 83 in Senior, 43 in Junior and 79 in Preliminary. The inferiority shown by the Junior candidates should prove a salutary lesson for the future, as with very little more application several more boys might have passed. Hearty congratulations are again due to Messrs. RALPHS, GRANT and TANNER for their painstaking and successful instruction.
9. Various structural improvements have been effected by the Public Works Department in the college in the course of the year. An entirely new roof has been erected over the Hall, without a ceiling as a check on the ravages of white ants; the roofs elsewhere have been generally overhauled; improvements made in the approaches to the Latrine and its ventilation; and, on the suggestion of Mr. RALPHIS, Acting Second Master, two extra rooms have been enclosed from the verandahs for the use of the Normal Master and the Pupil Teachers.
10. By Resolution of the Governing Body the Annual Examination of Queen's College, in the months of December and January, has been confided to the sole control of the Head Master; the Inspection and Examination by Independent Examiners being assigned to the summer.
11. The total number recently examined is 997-ccord figures for this college. The Oral Examination lasted throughout the month of December, Reading in all classes 997 boys, Conversation 760 and Grammar in Class VI, 166 boys. The Written Examination occupied twenty days in January, 7.165 pape:s being marked. Of these, 6,227 were corrected and marked by myself, the remaining 938, being Translation into Chinese, were marked by the Senior Chinese Assistants. Class masters were present at the Oral Examinations, and were called to the office to notice anything of interest in the written work. The system of marking adopted was: 34 per cent. marks were necessary for a pass in subject and class, the questions being sufficiently severe and the standard exacted high. 34-49 marks-Fair, 50-70=Good, 71-85-Very Good, 86-100 Excellent. Following this line I estimate the result of the examination as highly satisfactory.
Upper School. Lower School,
Preparatory School,.
..266 boys examined 235 or 88% passed.
493
238
""
25
430
221
$7
*
93
>>
33
886
S9
55
"
Total for the College, ...997
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