The eighth annual report of the Educa tional Committee responsible for the management of the Shanghai Public School has just been issued, and is an eminently satisfactory record of work. During the year there were several changes in' the assistant teaching staff, and the committee record with regret that they are to lose Miss Belbin, who has for some years been in charge of the Kindergarten Department, whilst Mrs. Petersen has sent in her resignation, as she is going home for a time. It appears that the contemplated arrangements for an experienced English teacher to conduct an advanced class for girls have fallen through, but meanwhile Mr. Lanning, the headmaster, proposes to lay down a two years' course in such subjects as mathematics, experimental science, phy-biography, French, singing, shorthand, typewriting, etc. and to grant certificates which, it is hoped. will take high rank in the Far East. The number of children attending the School shows a satisfactory increase, the average being 230, against 213 in 1898 and 20! 1897. The Committee continue "The Rev. H. C. Hodges and Rev. F. L. Hawks Pott, at the invitation of the Committee, kindly agreed to report on the School. The Committee's thanks are due to these gentlemen for the trouble they have taken and their suggestions will be most carefully considered. F. S. A. Bourne, Esq., promised his assistance, but was unfortunately prevented by absence from Shanghai from assisting in the examination.
The Special Grant of Tls. 3,500, voted by the Ratepayers in 1898," has been further drawn on during the current year to the extent of Tls. 1,119.58, including Tls. 769 for new desks, leaving Tls. 1,282.30 at credit of this account.
The Working Account for 1899 shows 8 balance at credit of Tls. 383.48, which, added to Tls. 1,282.30 in Special Account, shews a total balance of Tls. 1,665.78 carried forward.
"Te is a great satisfaction to the Committee that the amount of arrears outstanding is considerably less than in previous years.
"The Annual Entertainment took place in the Town Hall on Friday, 22: instant, The principal feature was a little act by the Kindergarten children, who acquitted themselves most creditably, under the supervision of Miss Belbin. The interest of the community was evinced by the large attendance. Mr. Nelson E. Bryant, deputed by the Commissioner of Customs, deserves the thanks of the Committee for conducting the examination in Chinese for the 'Colin Jamieson' Memorial Prize."
'The Headmaster's report describes' the year as without events of much interest from a scholastic point of view, and refers with satisfaction to the return from home of Mr. Northey, and the increase of the staff by the appointment of Mr. Goodell, from California, Mr. Lanning concludes And now, in conclusion, I wish to look for a moment at the careers of the boys who have left us. I have been through, personally and by deputy, so. many hundreds of examinations of one sort and another, that it is, perhaps, not to be wondered at that in iny case familiarity has had some of its proverbial effect. "The results of trial in life appeal to me with tenfold more force than position on a list, of examinees. And these results, I am very proud to say, are almost wholly satisfactory. Our old boys are found to be capable, willing, reliable, and trustworthy. People want many more of them than we have to send out. Those, too, who hai gone to the homelands always hold their own, and frequently come to the top. Mrs. Davidson's two sons, who left during the year, were successful against many rivals in' a competitive exami entrance to the Blue Coat School: Wingrove's eldest son, Chi extremely well, and similar good reports have come during the year both from England and America, "The highest honour, however, which any of our old boys has yet attained, is that gained by Mr. Charles Fryer, son of the well-known sinologue, Dr.' Fryer. This young gentleman has just graduated from the University of California, taking the highest possible honours for his year. His name will be found as that of the first winner of the Zion Chapter Scholarship in this School. The importance of the University of California is as yet little Known in Shanghai, but some idea of its standing may be formed from the fact that the accepted design for its new buildings is estimated to require several millions of pounds sterling to carry into execution"
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.