Sessional_Paper_1917 — Page 62

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Queen's College contains a Normal Class for training Chinese boys to be school- masters. The students are recruited in the following way :-They are selected by open examination usually from Class I, at Queen's College. They serve for three years as pupil teachers on a salary beginning at $20 a month, under the supervision of the Normal Master at Queen's College. They attend the Normal School every morning until 11.30, where they receive both theoretical and practical instruction, which is continued with more emphasis on the practical side during the rest of the day in Queen's College or a District School. On passing a final examination they are appointed teachers on a salary beginning at $40, and rising by increments or promotion to $170 per mensem; but there are very few appointments carrying the higher salaries. On ceasing to be pupil teachers the masters enter a kind of probation stage in which they teach all day and attend evening classes at the Technical Institute. There they have to pass annual examinations, after three of which their education is considered to be complete. Failure to pass involves reduction of pay and, in the end, dismissal.

IV.

The Discipline and Organization in the District Schools were found to be excellent throughout, and the relations of boys to masters satisfactory. But we regret to record our opinion that the general spirit and organization at Queen's College are not satis- factory and call for further investigation. There appears to be a lack of leadership, with the result that the College resembles an aggregation of classes rather than an organized unit.

The Curriculum.--At the District Schools we do not recommend any change in the present arrangement, and do not consider that too many Subjects other than English are being taught, or that too much time is devoted to such Subjects.

The learning by heart of poetry is of considerable educational value; but it should not be taught except where the English Staff can spare time to take the Subject. Apart from this recommendation, no change is recommended for the Lower Classes. On the Commercial Side of Queen's College we recommend that Book-keeping should be no longer taught, and that some reduction should be made in the hours devoted to the study of Chinese; the time thus saved to be devoted to the teaching of English. We also recommend that Commercial Geography should be dropped, and that the general course in Geography for the University Senior Examination should be substituted. No change in the curriculum is proposed for the Full Side of the Upper School. These are not sweeping changes, and apart from them we recommend no modification of the curriculum.

The Methods employed are good in themselves, although often applied by the Chinese masters in too mechanical a manner. The methods of the English Staff seem perfectly adequate and modern, and we find no cause for complaint in this respect.

The Staff is defective in two respects. The proportion of masters to pupils is too low, (even when not as at present reduced by absentees on war service), and the classes are too big. We recommend an increase of the Establishment sufficient to ensure that there shall always be at least one English teacher for every 120 boys, reckoning by the average attendance; and further, that the maximum enrolment for each division of a class be reduced from 40 to 30. This reduction might be accomplished as follows:- by applying it in 1918 to Class 8 (the lowest); in 1919 to Classes 8 and 7; and so on until the change has become operative throughout the schools. We are of opinion that the employment of women teachers in the Lower Classes might advantageously be extended. With regard to the Chinese masters, while recognising their industry and conscientiousness, we find that they are insufficiently prepared for the work of teaching a foreign language.

Buildings and Equipment.-Saiyingpun School is most unsuitably situated, being between two busy roads on a very narrow site, and opposite a row of noisy houses. The accommodation is insufficient and can not be extended. We therefore recommend that it should be abandoned and a new school built on a more suitable site in the same District.

The recommendations for the reduction in the size of classes made above call for the erection of an additional school. We recommend that it should be in the Eastern District.