Sessional_Paper_1907 — Page 919

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Appendix A.

No. 1. Kowloon British School.

Staff.—B. JAMES, M. ., Mrs MAIN, Mrs. MURRAY and Miss HOLMES.

Discipline and Organization.-Very good. Form II, the lowest but one in the Upper School, has been very weak numerically. On the other hand the 3 highest Forms were stronger than usual, num jering 15 pupils.

Sanitation.-Very satisfactory.

Floor Space-Sufficient for 230 pupils. Apparatus:-Very satisfactory.

English-Reading-Good. Writing. Handwriting has considerably improved in the lower Forms, The con positions of the senior pupils are very neat, and in most respects satisfactory. The style is however in some instances rather childish and I wish that the number of school lessons and examina ions would permit the reading of standard authors in school. If this is impossible, the for nation of a school library. would, I feel sure, do much good.

Geography.—Good, Some very good papers were written at examination in the Upper School.

History. The lowe: Forms of the Upper School do not seem to have got on as well as usual with this subject. The 3 highest Forms are working together. They are mainly taught from notes. It would be well if standard works of reference were purchased, and the pupils encouraged to turn to these for further information.

Arithmetic.-Very food in the Upper School. The Lower School appear to me to be somewhat backward, an | I noticed a distinct weakness in mental arithmetic.

French. The follwing extracts with which I concur are from a report made by Mr. M. D.'AGOSTINI. The post advanced pupils had been studing for only 16 months :—

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JA

Considering the time they have studied I found the result "Satisfactory.' Their pronunciation is very a curate, and I much admired the uniformity of the knowledge, as the one knows nearly as much as the other. I related in French two little subjects of composition. A short story and the subject of a voyage. The students understood a great deal of what I said, nd I knew they did by their answers in cross-questioning. Some words which were new to the students were translated by their teacher. Most of the questions taken from Lebon's Reader and the two subjects of composition were answered rather well. The students are rather weak in composition. I think the method by which they are learning is ery good and the books well selected, but I submit a few slight suggestions. It would perhaps be a good thing if the teacher spoke only French to the Senior class and as much as possible to the Junior one. When the students do not under- stand the new words did sentences, they might be explained by means of a picture book made for the purpose and by other words already known and by association of ideas. Also to devote a part (f each lesson to some practical work not connected with the books in use. For instance to elate simple short stories in French and ask the pupils to write them in addition to their home work, then when the compositions are corrected to ask them to find out the rules fi pm which they have deviated. These compositions could be used as a subject of conversation by the teacher. I would also ask the students to compose a few sentences at home, lear them by heart whether right or wrong and repeat them to the teacher, who would correct them afterwards, increasing the number of these sentences gradually. Hossfeld's French Grammar contains a lot of stories which could be used by the teacher.

Drawing-Improved. This subject should be tested next year by some one better qualified to judge it than myself.

Singing.-Excell int.

Needlework. The Sub-Inspector of Needlework reports that while otherwise good, the sewing in the Uppe School seems to lack variety. The hemming done by some very stall children is good.