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History Standards III to VI have in six months gone roughly through the first year's course prescribed by the Committee on History and Geography. I was pleased with the answers to a written paper on Greece and the early civilisations, and still more with an oral examination which I held. The subject has been taught with great discrimination. Considering the newness of the subject, the results in Standard III seem distinctly promising.
Arithmetic.-In the lower Standards it would be better if the black-board were used less, and sums were given out orally. Otherwise the results were good.. Slates should not be used for work in this or any other subject above Standard III. When they are used they should be cleaned with a sponge or a piece of cloth. I attach much importance to making the Arithmetic taught such as will be of the greatest practical use to the scholar in after life. A great deal that appears in old- fashioned Arithmetic books can be dispensed with, e.g., the boys should be taught to work long Compound Interest sums by means of tables. They should, wherever it is practicable to do so, be taught to get approximate answers by short methods. There is a large field for improvement in this respect, e.g., in a long simplification sum set at examination the answer could have been seen at a glance to be less than 2. In many cases it was worked out as 60 odd.
Chinese.--Composition in the higher Standards was well done. The Readers were not known at all well. This seems to have been due to an attempt to push
the boys through them too fast.
The Chinese classes have hitherto been formed without reference to the position of the scholars in the English School. In future, however, a system of pari pussu examinations will be insisted on, and a minimum knowledge of Chinese made a condition before promotion is granted.
(5). Wantsai Anglo-Chinese School.
Staff-YOUNG HEE (Headmaster) and 5 Assistant Chinese Masters.
Discipline and Organization.-Very good masters' notes on lessons should be kept in a suitable book, the alternate pages being left blank for notes respecting any improvements which may suggest theinselves after the lesson has been delivered. This will save much trouble, and be a great help in future years.
Sanitation.--Satisfactory.
Floor space.-Sufficient for 302 scholars..
Apparatus. Satisfactory.
English.The good beginning of teaching colloquial English in the junior Standards, which was made last year, has been well continued. Object lessons, reading lessons and the study of local Geography are all turned to this end. In consequence English Composition has greatly improved and is now very good in Standard V.
Geography. Local Geography has been well taught. There is room for im- provement in the work done by the higher Standards. It is a pity that more advantage has not been taken of the course in Geopraphy given to masters during the year by Mr. WILLIAMS at the Normal School. Map-drawing was weak.
History. Pains have been taken, but the results were not as good as there is every reason to hope they may soon be, when the proper method of teaching the subject is better understood.
Arithmetic. The general remarks made upon the Yaumati School apply equally to the Wantsai School. The working was accurate and neat.
Chinese-Composition is very good in the upper Standards. The Readers have been intelligently taught and are well understood.
(6).—Uen Long Anglo-Chinese School. Staff.-One Chinese Master.
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