The Shanghai, Municipal Council desires to see private Chinese schools the Settlement brought as far as Possible into line with the code of Chinese schools in territory under Chinese "jurisdiction. " The Council recognizes that almost all the nonmunicipal schools for Chinese children in the International Settlement are under Chinese control, with no imitations thereto save these necessarily set by the special cireumstances of the Settlement. It also recognizes that the Education Bureau of Greater Shanghai is by Chinese Jaw the proper authority to exercise that control. Accordingly, the Council has suggested to the Mayor of Greater" Shanghai that a logical result of this situation would be the acceptance by the Council of the lof Education Bureau's reeommendati of a Chinese school within the Settlement us proof of that school's qualifications for municipal grant in-aid, If the Education undertakes the responsibility of recommending schools for gra fid,—and it is hoped that the apportionment and disbursement of the grants will be nade by the Council, in concert with the Bureau, on the advice of a Chinese Com. mittee reporting to the Council through the Board of Education, id_guided by regulations now approved. This. set. of regulations, called "general conditions for Chi: nese schools," is the same, except the geographical limits of its application, as that published by the Counetl in regard to non-municipal schools for foreign children.
Tt may be recalled that early this year the Council approved of the lusian in the Bud of Ts, 150,000 for grants-in non-municipal educational establishments, The ratepayers "endorsed this proposal at the annual meeting, Dut 0 far no grants have actually been made out of this fund.
The Education Board gave much attention both to the drafting and translation of the General Condi tions governing the grants-in-aid: great "care was taken to avoid Variation of meaning in the English and Ohinese texts. One paragraph originally ingerred in the outline of the course of study created unusual Aifficulty, inasmuch as ultimately it Was intimated that it might be mix-understood by Chinese. After full Acliberation the Education Board unanimously recommended the adoption of an amendment 40 that the clause should rend:—and good citizenship should be all schools, and no instru to offend ational suscept to croute inter-racial animosity shall The Council has approved this amendment.
In the course of discussion by the Education Bourd it was emphasized that the clause prohibiting instruc. tion calculated to create inter-racial animosity in aided schools was; drafted prior to the development of the existing: political situation, and therefore it was in no way connected with the strained relations which subsequently developed between two ational sections of the community. Further, there was no intention Whatever on the part of the Council to exercise undue influence over bools:. the position of the that it wished to do its duty as the administrative body of a large city and offer grants to private schools; it definitely was not the intention to prohibit patriotic activities in these schools. The Chairman of the Education "Board declared that the decision to inclu the inhibitory clause was actuated by the fact that us the schools concerned were situated within an International" Settlement "the teaching therein should be on such a basis as to promote international Ca-operation and friendship. He, therefore, submitted that the present exists afforded an excellent opportunity for the Board to give express sion to the principle that, patriotic activities within the schools did not necessitate fostering racial animosity. "He expressed the opinion that it should be possible through the teaching given in national schools, to promote the cause of patriotism without inculcating hatred and animosity against any other national section of the community.
member of the Board referred to the opinion expressed in Mr. Tustice "Feotham's report that would be inappropriate for the, Council to, make grants to schools which inculcated inter-racial animos-'The inclusion of the clause might therefore be regarded as a safeguard against such a contingency. It may be well here to quote 'Mr. Justice Feetham. He. wrote: In' comection with any arrangements as to control of the Council's schools, or as to grants to schools maintained by national or private] enterprise, there is, I think, one stipulation the inclusion of which in any compact made to secure the carrying out of the new educational policy may be regarded as a reason. able and necessary safeguard. for! the interests of the Settlement as a whole:, the stipulation which I est is that, with regard both to foreign and 'Chinese schools, it shall be a condition of any plan ith regard to control of the schools, and of any scheme for grants of assistance to private: schools, that the teaching of the: schools' concerned shall not be in any way directed to the promotion srnational or inter-racial animodities. In view of the character of the textbooks which have been in use in some schools, such a stipulation cannot be rearded_ superfluous. The basis of the Set-toment regime is international partnership, not only as between foreign nations, but also as between China and foreign nations, and it would be strangely inappropriate if 1 Council consisting of representa tives of many nations,—working together in partnership' for the purpose of conducting the adminis. tration of the Settlement in the common "interests of all, " were: knowingly and intentionally spend any portion of its revenue on. the maintenance of schools in which [children of different nations repres-fented among its constituents were taught to cherish the conviction that history required them to regard each it) was their. first duty as good citizens of their own country. to hate the people of some other country. International cooperation in the Council cannot be securely founded on a basis of international enmity in the schools. The suggested I round, that propaganda against any particular nation, of any group of "nations, would' be prohibited, It may, doubt, be difficult to ensure that any, such tule is in all respects faithfully. observed, but public recognition of the rule will, in itself, be a safeguard ud an important step in the right direction.
The amended clause, as part of the Council's general" educational policy, must be considered a happy outcome of the discussions. Ad. Mherence to its provisions is expected nationality.
Jof all schools irrespective of their
Following the solution of this problem, the Council, on the recom: mendation of the Board of Educa-ton, wrote to General Chang Chun, Mayor of Greater Shanghai, as follows:—
"Sir:—You are probably aware! that the Council was, authorized by the Inst Ratepayers' Meeting to' promote education for the children Of residents in the International Settlement by making grants of money to private schools which.
tify the Council as to their educa tional efficiency and their need financial ai 'A. statement of the general) conditions under which these grants ill be available has been adopted and a copy is enclosed herewith.
You will observe that it) is] required of private schools that they conform to the recognized education standards of the country which the majority of the pupils. belong. For Chinese schools it i expressly stated that they should conform to the regulations and. requirements of the Chinese Government.
The allotment of the grants will be made on the advice of a Chinese Committee of the Council's Board of
schools to which grants might ap~ Education. In select the Chinese propriately be given, the Board Would welcome the recommendations. fof the Commissioner of Educati for the Municipality of Greater Tt is proposed that the ions from the Chinese schools desiring grants _be made through the office of the Bureau of Education for Greater Shanghai and mendations or comments of Commissioner.
Tt may not be possible grants to all the schools recom-"in special cases it may de ble to aid some schools other Than those recommended, but advice of the Commissioner would]
carefully considered by the Board of Education.
The Council believes that cooperation on these lines would fur-_ ther mutual understanding and good-will and hopes that it may fave your approval and support.
Tt may be added that with regard to the application of the general
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.