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Graduate Teachers.

This Memorandum is written from the point of view of the Grant-in-Aid Schools. It is not proposed, therefore, to spend much time discussing the training of Graduate Teachers, on the ground (already mentioned) that for reasons of finance such Teachers are never likely to play a big part in the staffing of Grant Colleges and Schools.

We regard the training of such Teachers, as it is at present given in the University, as altogether inadequate.

Whether the product of the new scheme of training envisaged will replace the European Teacher in the Colony is merely a matter of conjecture. Graduate Tea- chers, properly trained, should be able to take all classes in the Secondary Schools in all subjects with, perhaps, the exception of English in the higher classes.

If that standard is to be reached, however, there must be a radical reform in the courses which have been given up to this.

Appendix II.

I. VERNACULAR TEACHERS.

My experience during the last 24 years in Hong Kong has not provided me with much opportunity to study the system or success of the methods of training verna- cular teachers. What little chance I have had of observing their work has been in the course of my duties in various Government Anglo-Chinese Schools, and, with very few exceptions, this class of teacher has never impressed me from the point of view of either discipline or methods of teaching. The former, I have found, in most cases weak, perhaps on account of the latter which were generally uninspir- ing and old-fashioned.

In my opinion the standard of educational attainment of many of these teachers is not sufficiently high, and most seem to lack energy, initiative and enthusiasm. I think if this branch of local education is to be done properly, a different type of recruit must be obtained, submitted to modern training in educational methods, and gradually utilized to replace the old order as its members retire. I shall return to this subject later in connexion with University Training.

As Director of the Evening Institute, I have taken the opportunity recently of strengthening the Staff of the Vernacular Teachers' Classes. The changes were made in accordance with the advice of Mr. Y. P. Law, Inspector of Vernacular Schools, and Mr. Li King Hong, Headmaster of the Vernacular Normal and Middle School. The supervisor of these classes, Mr. Lo Yuk Lun, has recently resigned, his resignation has been accepted, and Mr. Y. P. Law, it is hoped, will succeed him as from the commencement of next term, i.e., October, 1938. Men and women in these classes are taught separately.

II. ANGLO-CHINESE TEACHERS.

For

EVENING INSTITUTE.-I find myself able to speak with more authority regard- ing the training given to Anglo-Chinese Teachers in the Evening Institute. many years I was lecturer in these classes, and, on several occasions acted as examiner. These classes are "Mixed". Burney (p. 23) states that arrangements for this type of training were "in the main satisfactory".

in the main satisfactory". I think there is great