January 27, 1906.]
QUEEN'S COLLEGE.
DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES.
The annual distribution of prizes at Queen's College, always an interesting event, took place on Jan. 22, when H.E. the Governor presided over an attendance which included a large num. ber of visitors. Occupying seats on the platform were Dr. Bateson Wright, Lady Berkeley, Lady Piggott, Mrs. C. W. Dickson, Mrs. Bateson Wright, Mrs. Badeley, Mrs. Noms, Mrs. Irving, Mrs. Gershom Stewart, Mrs. Chatham, Sir Henry Berkeley, the Hon. Mr. T. Sercombe Smith, Mr. Noma and Captain Coleman, A.D.C. to His Excellency. Among the others present were the Hon. W. Chatham, Captain Lyons, Mr. G. A. Woodcock, Rev. F. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs: Irvine, Rev. Bro. Sylvester, Mr. G.H. Piercey, Mr. and Mrs. Williams, Mr. E. A. Hewett, Mr. P. 1. J. Wodehouse, Rev. and Mrs. Hickling, Mr., Mrs, and Miss Craig, Miss Holmes, Mr. Lammert, Mr. Hance, Mr. Mooney. Mr. T. L. Perkins, Mr. J. Orange, Senhor Cou- selheiro Romano, Miss Chichester and others.
On the Governor's arrival, the Head Master' Dr. Bateson Wright read the annual reports, from which extracts follow :—
Was
95
The total number on the roll 1,416, less than the previous year, while the average daily attendance was 1,615, or 15 in excess. These comparative figures establish the follow- ing facts, that Queen's College was as full in 1905 as in 1904, but that there was a further improvement in regularity of attendance, and that fewer boys left in the course of the year. which is further supported by the fact that only 373 new boya were admitted as against 453.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Robert Eastlack. of III A., and Ip U-pik, of † Sen.); IB., A. Arenlli ;-' IIA., „Ng Cheong-hrat
IIB., Fung Fing tsoi; IIIA, R. Robson; IIIB., Tang Kit-ling; II, Wong Talkan. Drawing: -Kwan Iuki IIIA. Hygiene - Hung Iu-kwong, IA:
IV B., were selected by the examiners for prizes as having obtained the highest marks in their respective classes. In the spring of the year there were in Queen's College over 700 boys receiving instruction in Hygiene, but this
English-Class Prise:-1A., Pang Kwok-sui number dwindled through boys leaving school, (Morrison), I Sargon, E.; Hung Iu-chi (Blake), 2 until there remained for annual examinationWong Fe-nam, 2, Budder Deen. IIA-1, Au Lam Shiu-in, Yamasaki (8-n. Bel.). IB-1, 606, of whom 386, or 64 per cent., passed.
In the College examination the boys them selves exhibited in their answers an amount of interest that quite surprised me. Since a first year's work can produce such satisfactory results, we are justified in supposing that in another three years, after a progressive course: of education in this subject in the Third and Second Classes, the boys in the First Class may really acquire advanced knowledge in Hygiene. It will be remembered that six years ago, Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, when he dia- tributed the prizes here, said that Queen's College ought to have a Gymnasium. In 191 affairs had reached so advanced a stage that a plan for the building had been made, but it was discovered that the Government could not at present afford the expense, and it was proposed iemporarily to utilise the basement of the College for gymnastics, At length votes were included in the 1905 Estimates, 840 ||| for gymnastic appliances and $270 for an instructor. Through the kind services of the military authorities an excellent instructor has been provided in Sergeant D. Taylor, R.G. 4., and 80 b ys have been under instruction since last April; but what are they
among so many?
1
Reviewing the immense number of papers, 7,430, that have passed under my own persona The estimates provided $68,694 for 1905, but inspection in the recent ex mination, I have of this only $60,535 were spent. The amount arrived at the conclusion that we examiner of school fees was $31,397, covering nearly 52 are liable to overlook a certain element which per cent. of the total expenditure. There was produces most extraordinary errors, that might an increase in fees of $2,339, of which 81,660 at a superficial glance be attributed to gross are directly due to the extra half-dollar a month ignorance or crass stupidity. It is not surpris. charged to each scholar in the Upper Schooling that after laboriously thinking and express The balance, $679, is assignable to the improved ing himself in a foreign language during several bours of a protracted examination the Chinese. boy should find him-elf so weary as not to have his mental faculties under complete control. It is to this brain-fag that we must assign the occurrence in otherwise highly commendable papers of such freaks as for person,
attendance mentioned above.
The results of the Orford Local Examinations in 1905 as regards Queen's College show consider able improvement, 27 good marks being obtained as against 18 in 1904. Bix senior, 4 junior and 12 preliminary, 34 candidates in all, obtained certificates. At the annual examination, held by me under standing orders from the govern- ing body 893 out of 1,010 boys passėd
|
It gives me pleasure to find myself able to report a considerable improvement in the follow ing important English subjects:- Composition, Geography, Dict tion, Reading, Conversation, and Translations from and into Chinese. The Composition exercises, especially in all sections of Class IV., are the best I ever remember correcting. Map-drawing seems to have been neglected in all sections of Classes II, and III. but Geography through out the College was excellently taught, and the few searching questions outside the text-books were well ausw. red. Mathematics with the exception of Algebra continue poor. As there are several new subjects requiring mor detail d report, I cannot deal further with the usual subjects of instruction, beyond referring to a very interest- ing report made by the Second Master, Mr. A. J.May, after correcting the Translation papers from English into Chinese. He considers the unseen piece well attempted in all five classes, but awards the palm of excellence to Class II. with Class I. next. The latter class was puzzled with the expression "nations are all arming to the teeth," and misled by the occurrence of the word "teeth" employed as an equivalent a clas- sical phrase "the lips having been lost the teeth grow cold" (ie., It will be our turn next). Hygiene-By circuler in 1905 the Secretary of State orged on the Crown Colonies the importance of teaching this subject. The Gover- nor of Hongkong at ones made Hygiene a compulsory part of the school curriculum, and to simulate the necessary interest until the novelty of the subject should have worn off, His Excellency provided several prizes, which for value compare rather with scholar-hips. I am pleased to report that Hung Yuchi, a genuine Queen's College product, was bracketed third in The schools' competition in the advar ced course, while, by the success of our team of ten boys in
the
elementary course, the names of Queen's College will head the list inscribed on the Shield.
serpon
'gentleman" for Germany, etc. Dr. Bateson Wright added-I am sorry to have to report that owing to a breakdown in the machinery of the ship our school prize books that should have arrived from Englaud will not be here for another week or two. Winners of book prizes will receive a card on which their names and the books allotted to them are inscrib d, so that they can claim their prizes next term. It is just six weeks, sir, since you last visited this College. You visited every class, twenty-four, and when you had continued your inspection for four hours your Excellency showed no signs of fatigue and it became necessary to inform you that it was close upon half-past one. The hearty feeling with which we welcomed you last year at the prize distribution is if possible redoubled on this occasion. I will now ask you to distribute the prizes (cheers).
His Excellency, who was cordially greeted on rising, then presented the prizes.
Prize list for 1905-6 is as under :—
Oxford Local, 1905, Senior: Pang Kwok-sui, A.A., Lam Shiu-in, Sargon, E., A.▲., Hung Iu-chi, A A., Alonce, D A., A.A, Yamasaki, M. Junior: -Cheung Wo-yau, Suffaid, A. M., U Shui-shang, Suffaid, A. G. Preliminary-Wong Lam-cho, Abbas, Y, Wong Ting-fong, Osman, A. M., Kwan Iu-ki, Yeung Ku-fong, Leung Ping-fai, Yeung Kam-ling, Livesey, H. H, Ezekiel, J., Ellis, A White, H. O
lam; 2; Wong Chau-wong. IIIA-1, Henry Kai-fan; 2, Ng Cheung-bau. IIB-1, Lo Tak Leung (Bel. Jun.). 2, Tom Chun; 3, Chung Kam tong. IIIB-1, Lau Cham-san; 2, Chu Fu-in. IIIC-1, Cheng Taz on; 2, Cheung Hok-tsau. IVA.--1, Tong King-shun (Jun Morrision); 2,
Mak Kam-kwai; 3, Mok Ku-fan. IV.B.-1, Wing-fuk; 2, Cheung Sau-min, IVC-1, Kwong. Cheung Ng; 2, Luk King-fai. IVD. 1, Taui Tsim-fong; 2, Kwok Shu-in. VA-1, Wong Cheuk-kai; 2, Pun Kwok-cliing VB-1, Ng Ying-kai; 2, Cheung Yau-kuk. VC.-Tai Tung- pui; 2, U Sheung. VD-1, Chung Tit-ting; 2, Chin Chung cho. VIA –1, Tee U-wai; 2, Cheng Tse-ehuVIB.-1, Tsu Kwok-fái; 2, Ho Wing- yan, VIC.-1, U Yik-kwai; 2, Teoi Tsok-lau. VID.-1, Ng Shuki; 2, Lau Ying-lap. VIIA.—. 1, Fung Trang-kwai; 2, Che Hon-po. VIIC-1, 1, Yung Ying-kai; 2, Leung Chi-nam. VIIB.- Hun Pak-lami; 2, Lo Sik-hung. VIID.-1, Pun Hon-leung; 2, Chiu Sz-ping. VIII.-1, L. d'Aquino; 2, la Shiu-kau..
General Progress:IA., Hoshizaki; IVC.-J. Buons; IVD.-G. H. Markur; VB.-Ismail Adamj VD.-George Young; VIH.-S. Moosden; VID.- A. Nahim; VIIA.-J. Anderson; VIIB.- Alarakia, E.; VIID.-Ishiwatari.
:b. Ip Lam-shang. 2a. Luk eng-fai; 2b. Wai Vernacular.-Class Prizes-la. Fung Shiu-i ¡
Kwan-pui 2c. Ng Yik-kwai; 2d. Kwok hu-in. 3s. U-kwai. 48. Ho'Shung-liu; 4b. Cheng Pak-kun. Lau Tsun-wo., 3b. Ho Man-chung. 36. Chan
hau. 5c. Mak Po-tin. 4c. Ip Yik-shan. 6a. Ng chuk-i 5b. Tsang Ching-
His Excellency afterwards addressed the assembly. He said-Ladies and Gentlemen, To assist me iu coming to a conclusion as to the value of the work at Queen's College during the year 1950), I have had not only the Head Master's report which has just been read to us but also the report on the independent examination held in the middle of the year at the request of the governing body, and further the advantage of the personal inspection 1 made on December 9th of every class and division of the school. I am satisfied that there has been progres (applause). The great difficulties that have to be overcome at Queen's College, as at the other Anglo-Chinese Schools of Hong- kong, are that a large proportion of the boy's time is necessarily taken up by the study of a foreign language and that instruction in all other subjects has to be given in that language. It is of o ure out of the question that in a British school of this character the study of English should not have the first place and if other subjects were not taught in Eng- lish it would not be possible to get the best instructors for them. But you will realize the difficulties thereby involved to Chinese boys it you consider what would be the position of an English boy at a school where not only was he at once put to learn Greek but where all instruction was given in Greak and he had at
the
same time to master Eglish reading, writing, and composition. Even then the parallel is incomplete by reason of the vastly greater difficulty of reading and writing in Chinese than in English. It speaks volumes not only for the memory but also for the mental capacity of Chinese boys that in spite of such disadvantages they can compete with English boys in English subjects as they do at the Oxford Local Examinations (ap- planse). It struck me when going round the College that the English reading and talking of the small boys was better as a rule than that of the bigger boys in the same class and I am sure that many of the latter fail to derice full advantage from the excellent instruction given at the school through lack of early training in English, It is a well known kwong; Pupil Teachers', Wong Hoi-man. Trans-acquiring languages than older ones. I should pecial Prizes --Vachell Memorial, Hung fu- fact that small children are much quicker at lation-E-C., Ng Cheung-hau; C.-E., Ho vernor) Cheung Teng-shang. Trigonometry; Shai-in. Mathematics (Given by H.E. The Go- Cheung Tim.
Scholarships: - Morrison Seni r. Pang Kwok- sui; Morrison Junior, Tong King-shun, VA. Stewart, I am 8hing-fan, IA. Belilios Senior, Yamasaki; Belilios Junior, Henry Leung. Blake, Hang lu-chi.
History:-LA., Sargon, E.; IB, Budder Deen; IIA., Mok Kai-fuk; IIB., Chan (hiu; IIIA, Too Chak-m'n; IIIB., Chan Liu; IIIC., Cheung Hok-chau. Composition:-IA., Yamasaki [(Bel'
education both in the Chinese and English therefore like to impress on Chinese parents the importance of commencing their children's languages at an early age. Seven years is none too young for making a start.
As there is protably no reporter for a Chinese paper here I will ask the Chinese gentlemen present to
:
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.