Education Board Discusses "District Primary Institutions Ata meeting of the new Edueation Board held on July 3 co-edueation in local District Primary Schools, the teaching of the English language, and the provision of married quarters for teachers came up for discussion and met with a mixed reception.
Present at the meeting were The Rev. G. W. Sheppard. (chairman), and Messrs, A.D. Bell, L.
Yuan, H. G. Earle, Y. H. On, the Superintendent of Education, and the Secretary.
An offer made by Afr. C. L, Nich to present to the Council for use in the schools, a cinematograph pro-lector valued at Tis, 1,000 was first submitted. The Superintendent Education reported that this machine had been inspected and would be suitable for use in the Polytechnic Public School for Chinese. The offer was accepted.
In a report submitted, the Super. intendent of Education reviewed the decisions reached by previous Education Committees relative to the subject of ce-education so far as concerned the District Primary-Schools. While it would appear that ce-education had been opposed primarily on the ground of the earlier physiological development of children in this part of the word fand. while appreciating that thi spect of the subject, if true, wa undoubtedly a very important one, hho did not consider that this, itself, was a sufficient reason for deciding against the adoption of ce-education in these schools. For the reasons outlined he was. in favour'of ce-education, and add that if the Board decided against the establishment of mixed schools early, consideration should be given to the provision of separate schools for Chinese girls.
Certain members were strongly in favour of the admission of git! pupils to the District Primary' Schools under the same conditions as the mi mission of boys. A met ber stated that applications are frequently revived from the parents of boys attending these schools for permission for their daughters remain at the schools beyond the Kindergarten stage.
Tt was realized that if girl pupils were permitted to remain at these schools up to the age of 13 years the question of the provision of secondary schools for girls would ultimately " require consideration. The Bosrd agreed that whilst the system of ce-education at the Primary Schools could be adopted sue: cessfully it would not be prepared to recommend that this system be! applied to the higher grade schools.
For the guidance of the Chinese Education Oficer, it was considered desirable that regulations for the admission of girl pupils should be drawn up embodying these con-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.