At afternoon session of the Educational Association on Wednesday there were several papers read on the general subject of Educational Problems in China."
Dr. Parker of the Anglo-Chinese College, Shanghai, treated the subject very understandingly under the following heads 1.—How can a system of State Education in Western subjects be inaugurated? Judging from what has already been done this does not seem at all impossible 2.—How to guide the Chines in their present attempts to establish choels of Western learning How are the leaders of the new regime of government to be trained political and administrative wisdom? The speaker advocated the establishment of an Waventional Journal in Chinese for the purpose of disseminating correct ideas of stern Education.
Tu view of the present rush for English, how are the students to be held Jong enough to give them any real tion 7 How to aid in the various reform movements inaugurated by the Chinese themselves -How to offset the evil influence of 1s 1 ange un-Christian element among the students of a Christian School 8.—How to secure wealthy Chinese in rend supporting? ce-operation of 1s Sehiools self-
9.—How to secure uniformity in the curriculum of the various schools and colleges?
10,—Attitude of mission: ries tow: the New Learning. Is purely s ocular ching missionary work Other minor questions were raised and discussed by Dr. Parker in a very helpful pant is was followed by a similar paper by Rev.
thy Richard. As he himself said his per would serve to underline many of the points brought on the previ ious paper. But Mr. Richard stands for the puineiple in the regeneration of China, of administering the Ieaven at the top of the Jump. He would (1) emphasise the importinee of educating public opinion through the reading class of Chinese and (2) the necessity of the Educational Society pressing upon the Chinese Government the question of establishing a na tional system of public schools.
x. Mateer then followed wit ha very strong paper pointing out the dangers of the Self Support fetish. He showed very clearly how in their race for selé- the schools a in great danger of offering education which has money" value rath than that which will give the Chinese student wisdom to help lift his country to something better, The Chinese are mer-canary and this tendency: should not be catered to. Self-support is likely to drag education down to. poor commercial edu-Our schools and colleges at home re not self-supporting, why should they he in China!
Mr. Gedye of Wuchang then pointed to the great necessity for a general examining bourd for China, ing teachers with certitie: and thus protect perienced Chinese authorities imposed upon by worthless pretenders hoare opening numerous schools throughout the country on the strength of cates which guarantee of ability, 5 appointed to lod on and determine what could be 'The general discussion following the papers was participated in Ly' Rev. M.
es, and Dr. Wainewright of the Methodist College, Kobe, Japan.
Rev. J. C. Ferguson pointed out that the subjects of commercial value in education are but the bare beginnings of a liberal education. Hence the great danger of yielding to this demand of the Chinese for English "and other money making subjects of study.
Rey. Elwin then showed that there were two sides to the question of self-support. In his experience he had found that his success in gaining numbers had been directly proportional to the fees charged.
Dr. Kupfer of Chinkiang was satisfied of the evil of introducing English Dut was embarrassed by the actual question of resisting the demand of the Chinese for The Revs. Mr. Plumb, Mr. Silsby, Mr. Bryan, and Mr. Miner and Miss A. Cogdall also added their views, making it clear that both of these important questions. like most others, have tro sides. A resolution as offered appointing a committee to confer ith a committee from the Society fur the Diffusion of Christian and General Know ledge for the purpose of presenting " memorial to the Chinese Government pointi out the necessity of taking steps to establishing a public school system for China. This resolution was adopted and the meeting adjourned until 9.30 Thursday morning. meetings scripture and prayer v. N. J. Plumb of Foochow. After passing the minutes of first day's meetings, " paper on "The Christian School in China" was read. The author, Rev. M. M. Hay: not being present,' Rev. MI. Ince read the paper for him.
Tt was a good opening of the subject and was followed by some very d ricing remarks by Rev. FI. H. Pott who, apparently, would follow the advi of a celebrated master of Balliol and na his college strive for the development of the intellectatal, soci isgious in its student and religious virtues that the Chinese is welk. Hence the student should he placed in an ironment which tends str: pera instruction Mr, danger of the Chi intelligent student becoming disgusted with too much insistence on our" part. He po had the sume developing ch: of the teacher all nose important. As Garticld once s it only. requ bench with a hoy on one end and Hopkins on the other to make a univ In short, ko of the Chinese by treating them This was followed by a Couling on the sane subj ling the paper in the author.
Mr. F.C. Couper of St. Ju Mege then ¥ interesting paper upon "Phy: vise in schools for Chi The paper was convincing in it rendered doubly ssu by the object lessons Mr. Cooper had sixteen of his 1 uniform and the prompt-with which Frulls and The instant obedience us vigoruts m. mer of execution of the es wes inn cynteast to the usual slovenly habits of the upon then followed with inese studies in schools. ost important and troublesome old established methods should be the constant endeavour to get a series of text-books written in good style of Chinese and yet briefer and better arranged than the bulky Chinese text-Looks. One of the dangers is that of so far following the Chinese methods as to make the work in Chinese largely recitation, which has been found to be little index to the ability or understanding of the students.
Dr. Mater took issue with Mr. Ferguson on one © of the question of Chinese Studies. He pointed out that since the Wen Chang seem to be doomed, that some substitute must be provided for the Chinese acquiring a good written style, and insisted that since the Chinese language is almost. incapable of being treated grainaiatically, there is but one way for the Chinese to acquire a good style—namely, by the study of good model:
Rev, Geo. Loehr in his paper on "Foreign Students" presented the defence for the introduction of English in schools and college. Mr. Kupfer then read Mr. Jackson's paper on Religious Studies in Schools" and Miss Silver read M Hattie Noyes paper on "Preparation of Studies."
The meeting adjourned until 2.30, but the proceedings are held over,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.