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within the meaning of § 36 of the Code is due to some rather obvious weak points in the teaching of the lower Standards as remarked on below. It is not due to the failure of the higher Standards in History and Geography, because I do- not think that Schools coming under § 34 (i.) can very well be expected to have a Staff capable of teaching these subjects to the higher Standards in the broad way in which alone they can be taught to any useful purpose.
Sanitation.-Satisfactory.
Floor space.-Sufficient for 233 scholars.
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Apparatus. The maps require renewal. Reading-sheets and local maps are badly needed.
English-Colloquial.-A great improvement has taken place in the methods of teaching. But there is still room for inuch more. No actual colloquial lessons appear in the time-table, and many orders such as "look at your books. are still be- ing given in Chinese to boys who have been studying English for 4 years and more. Lessons from reading-sheets in the lower Standards are much to be desired. Nevertheless Standard I were able to answer simple questions in English; and Standard V were quite willing to try and converse. Reading. Great pains have been taken to correct the pronunciation. The pictures and subject matter are well understood. I was, however, surprised to find the time-honoured heresy per- petuated, of giving a reading lesson to-day and explaining what it was all about to- morrow. Composition was very fair in Standard V. Original composition does not seem to be sufficiently practised in the lower Standards. It should be attempted even in Standard I.
Chinese. Chinese Composition has been taught regularly throughout the year with satisfactory results: the senior boys have a useful knowledge of the written characters. Standard I was, however, very weak in its Reader. I cannot help thinking that it must have been neglected to give time for the memorisation of the classics. Translation from English to Chinese and vice versâ does no good to beginners, and should be dropped, and English Composition substituted therefor, as recommended above.
Geography.It is the more surprising that this subject should be begun in the old-fashioned manner, seeing that the headmaster has, during the current year, undertaken the task of translating the Geography lectures given at the Normal School into Chinese. It is typical of this style of teaching, which begins with the memorisation of Geography Definitions," that Standard III knew something about the South American Republics, but nothing about Chinese emigration to to the Transvaal. In the upper Standards the Geography of the world in outline and of the British Empire, had been taught with much pains.
History.A period of English History had been begun in the higher Stan- dards. But it had not been studied to any practical purpose.
Mathematics.-The Arithmetic is neatly and on the whole correctly done. Algebra has been taken, up to the removal of brackets. It is perhaps doubtful whether the subject is worth pursuing if it cannot be more fully studied. Pro- bably some thing of the elements of practical geometry would give more useful results.
(15).—Church Missionary Society-No. 37 Hollywood Road. Discipline and Organization.—Discipline and drill good. The requirements of the Code have not been fulfilled in several respects. The time-table is not strictly adhered to.
This school is reported as "inefficient," Sunitation.—A. very dark room.
Overcrowded at times.
Floor space.-Sufficient for 36 scholars.
Apparatus.-Wall pictures and maps are badly wanted,
English.The old-fashioned methods are still in force. The teacher does not talk enough English to the boys, nor make them reply. He relies upon transla- tions too much. The boys, however, read fairly, and seem to understand what they have read.
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