January 18, 1909.]
hygiene were not quite so satisfactory as last year, though if the boys had been set to a test examination they would all have passed. Since the redistribution of the classes these were much improved. Alluding to the pupil teachers ex- amination, for the education department, there were six elected out of 53 candidates, which was very creditable indeed. Admission to Queen's College was now by open competition and as it was desired that these schools should be feeders for that institution pupils who made 50 per cent. in their school examinations received a priority of entrance. There were no less than 14 from Yaumati who were eligible for admission, eight from Wantsai and 21 from Saiyingyun, which was very creditable. Referring to the Anglo- Indian School, he said they had overcome the difficulty of getting a headmaster and the school was doing good work. The discipline in the lower classes might be better.
Mrs. MAY having distributed the prizes, was handed a beautiful bouquet and the proceedings terminated with the scholars singing the National Anthem.
QUEEN'S COLLEGE,
THE ANNUAL PRIZE DISTRIBUTION.
The annual distribution of prizes in connac- tion with Queen's ollege took place on the 15th inst., when His Excellency the Governor prdesided. Among the large number in atten- ance were His Lordship Bishop Lander, Cap- tain Mitchell-Taylor, A.D.C., Mr. A. J. Brack- enbury, Private Secretary, Mr. E. D. C. Wolfe, Inspector of Schools, Hon. Mr. E. A. Irvine, Registrar General, Miss Henniker, Mr. J. J. Leiria, Consul-General for Portugal, Rev. E. J. Barnett, Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Craig, Rev. T. W. and Mrs. Pearce, Rev. Bro. hristian, director of St. Joseph's College, Mr. A Mackenzie, Mrs. and Miss Chatham and Mrs.
Tutcher.
Mr. T. K. DEALY, the headmaster, read the report
as follows:-During the past year, 1270 scholars have been - on the roll The average daily attendance was 911. The corresponding figures for the previous year were 1418 and 1005 respectively. The lower numbers for 1908 are due partly to a recrudescence of plague in the middle of the year, when many boys left the Colony by the direct orders of their parents; partly to the authorised introduction of an age limit for admission; but mainly to the welcome reduction in the size of classes, as recommended by the Governing Body and sanctioned by His Ex- cellency, the Governor. With respect to the age limit, it may be remarked that no boy over 15 English years will henceforward be admitted to Class VI; allowing for & year in each class, no boy over 20 years of age can be admitted to lass I. In course of time, as our present over age boys are eliminated, we shall have classes composed of boys of fairly uniform age. This regulation must unfailingly bring about great improvement in class work. Boys of the same age pull together far better not only in the school-room but in the play-ground.
Attendance, on the whole, continues regular. More stringent rules with regard to leave are being gradually introduced, and it is earnestly to be hoped that parents and guardians will endeavour to see that these are rigorously observed. Boys at school should neither be expected nor encouraged to apply for leave to be present at minor family functions, such as the birthdays and marriages of relatives. The utmost regularity is absolutely essential if real progress is to be made. It seems absurd that a boy should be summoned by his parents from the strenuous routine of school life, to his distant native village, merely to participate in a house-warming. Such applications have been
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. youth has formed new ties and new interests: his mind is distracted at a time when it should be wholly devoted to study.
School was in session during 224 instead of 221 days. The Typhoon which passed over the Colony in the night between the 27th and 28th July unroofed the central part of the hall, and so damaged the west wing that it was deemed advisable to end the term and to hand the building over to the Public Works Department for immediate attention. The year 1908, owing to this typhoon, is the only year in the annals of Queen's College during which there has been no session in the month of August.
A revised list of school holidays was approved by His Excellency. the Governor in a minute dated 19th Nov. 1908. The chief point of notice is that the summer vacation has been extended a week and is now 38 instead of 31 days as before. Four whole day holidays have been abolished, so that the nett increase is one of three days. The change is one that is much appreciated by both
staff and students.
The total gross expenditure, including a bonus of $600 for colloquial Cantonese to Mr. de Martin, was $70,717, or $9,722 more to the low rate of the dollar in the market, than in 1907. This increase is attributable
while, for purposes of exchange compensation in the estimates it had been calculated at 2/-.
The revenue of this establishment, in spite of our reduced numbers, shows an increase of $667 over that of 1907. Towards the total cost of the maintenance of Queen's College, fees con-, tribute 44 per cent aud the Government 56 per cent. This is clearly set forth in table IV, an addition to our statistical tables, and which is intended, eventually, to be a decennial return.
The following changes in the staff took place during the year--Dr. Wright went to Europe on a much-needed and well-earned year's leave of absence on 8th April: This implied promotion of one step, down the whole staff, with the addi- tion of an acting pupil teacher.
4 cases
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The effect of plague on our numbers has al- ready been alluded to; otherwise, the general health of the students has been good; 17 boys have been off the roll, for varying periods,' on account of scabies, and 22 for beri-beri. In obedience to Notification 282 of 16th April any boys suspected of eye-trouble have been sent to the Tung-Wa Hospital for report. Eleven cases were returned as suffering from trachoma | in a mild form and underwent treatment extending from 1 to 6 months; were returned as trachoma in B virulent form, and 3 as not trachoma. Boys with the mild form of this disease, provided they submit to treatment, are allowed to attend school; the virulent cases are sent away until cured. Examination and treatment of trachoma at the Tung-Wa Hospital are free of charge. As recommended by the notification, our floors are regularly mopped with a weak solution of Jeyes's Fluid, to lay dust and destroy germs. The examination of the eyes of the pupils of this College, made by Dra Jordan and Grone in 1907, showed that a large proportion of our boys suffered from trachoma in various stages. In the interests of health, it would be well if such a professional examination of the eyes of the entire school could be made annually, preferably after our winter vacation. Superfic al lay observation, though ever so well-intentioned, cannot be ex- pected to be thoroughly efficient in the case of such an infectious disease as trachoma.
At the last Oxford Local Examination our candidates obtained 12 certificates, the samo number as in 1906. The percentage of passes was: Seniors 30 per cent., Juniors 33 per cent. and Preliminaries 67 per cent. One of our junior candidates was the only one in the Far East who passed in Higher Mathematics. Queen's College, being a day school only, is sadly hampered in the preparation of its boys for public and other examinations. A hostel, if established, would be a most beneficial addition. No doubt, among the many matters Chinese It does not seem out of place here to state that that need reform, is that of early marriage. I the delegates at Oxford are now prepared to had in my office recently a candidate for matri-examine senior candidates in Classical Chinese, monial honours who was but 16 years old Comment is needless.
received.
The average age of applicants for marriage ranges between 19 and 20. It is notorious that such boys, almost without exception, lose posi- tion in class. The young wife is generally left behind in the country with the parents, but the
and a pass in this subject, taken in conjunction with several other subjects, will exempt such candidates from responsions. They are also prepared to examine Preliminary Junior and Senior Candidates in Modern Chinese. This extension of the curriculum for Chinese students ought to give them a larger chance of success
51
more level terms with the boys in England. in the future, enabling them to compete on
Class VII. the last remnant of our Pre- paratory School, was abolished in 1907. The use of slates was also abandoned in our Lower School towards the end of the year.
The results of the annual examination for prizes and promotions held by me under Stand- ing Orders from the Governing Body, are as under:
89 per cent. passed. Lower School, 514 boys Upper School, 319 boys examined; 284, or examined: 470, or 91 per cent. passed. Total, 833 boys examined, and 554 or 90.5 per cent. passed.
dictation, grammar, composition and history, in The English subjects of reading, conversation the higher sections of each class, show clear evidence of careful teaching, and of equally careful attention on the part of the boys: the although generally, but not always gaining less lower sections composed of less able boys, marks, reach a satisfactory level. While re- ferring to the subject of English, I would lay stress on the need for even greater care than is now shown in teaching the boys correct English sounds. The new and the modified sounds has to acquire, are not many. They ough of the English alphabet that a Chinese boy
to be completely mastered before the boy leaves the Lower School; if not, he will be heavily handicapped when he enters the Upper School. An intelligent application of the principles of phonetics would surmount any difficulties to be met with on this score. The subject of phonetics may be described, not inappropriately, as the chemistry of spoken language. It has processes of analysis and processes of synthesis: it breaks down and buildo up: it takes any given sound and resolves it ints its ultimate constituent elements: it forms com- binations, and shows exactly and scientifically which sounds, elementary or compound, are correct and which are incorrect. It checks errors by showing the real source of the error. It is the final touchstone of all absolutely correct speech, and is yearly acquiring new and increased value in the domain of pedagogy. No teacher's intellectual outfit can be regarded as approach- ing completion unless it includes some organised knowledge of this important branch of linguistics. If the Normal School be ever re- started, its curriculum ought to include this subject.
In geography, questions were set that called for application rather than for mere dry enumeration of geographical facts. The results were gratifying. Mathematics in I A and in
lasses III are good: in Class II very good. Elementary Algebra and geometrical drawing in Class IV both gave excellent results. Men- suration in Class II reached a high standard; in Class I this subject was but fair. The general intelligence paper set to Class I was well answer- ed by I A only. Hygiene throughout Classes I to V was satisfactory. The non-Chinese boys in the Upper School take physiology and Elementary scence in lien of the two translation papers: they are divided into seniors and juniors. The results in each section can only by regarded as, fair, the uneven character of the answers being due to the fact that the boys come from different classes.
Optional classes vary considerably from year to year. This year the two classes for model and freehand drawing, taken by the Second Master, only comprised four students each. All passed creditably in freehand: one boy failed in model, the test being about equal to that of the Junior Oxford Local.
Boys taking trigonometry were divided into there sections - senior, junior and beginners. The one senior did a very creditable paper, get- ting 88 marks ont of 100; 2 juniors out of 9 failed to come up to the required standard, and the 5 beginners all got through. The percen- tage for the entire class works out at 87 per cent., which may be considered highly satisfactory.
Queen's ollege entered a team of 10 boys for the Annual Hygiene Competition; we were placed third in the list recently issued.
The Normal Master, Mr. Tanner, in a carefully drawn up report addressed to me, says that the articled and acting pupil teachers under his charge show the greatest eagerness in their work, and evince every desire to improve in their own particular studies. As a result of my own personal observation of them throughout the
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