The China Mail.
Hongkong, Friday, February 6, 1931.
No. 27,715
Page 1 & 8
VALUE OF DISCIPLINE IN EDUCATION
WHAT "TRADITION" MEANS
GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS TO QUEEN'S COLLEGE BOYS.
JUNIOR LOCAL CHANGES?
His Excellency the Governor, presenting the prizes to successful students of Queen's College this morning, concurred with the view expressed in the report of the head master, Mr. F.J. de Rome, that the examination results in the Junior Local were disappointing. He added that he was looking into the question with a view to making changes. Although he did not claim to be an educationalist, he thought that with the help of the Vice Chancellor of the University, Sir W.W.Hornell, and Mr. G.P. de Martin, the Director of Education, improvements would eventually be made.
Sir William Peel went on to emphasise the value of discipline and tradition in early school life. It was a mistake if boys thought that they came to school purely for academic education. Discipline way all important. Students could not hope to be leaders in after life without it. "Rules are often irksome," said His Excellency..... "but it should be remembered that they have been made by people of experience."
PLAY UP! PLAY THE GAME!
Queen's College had a tradition of its own, but he would like to point out to the students that the greater traditions - those of playing the game, and dealing honourably with their fellows, - were not only learned in the schoolroom, but were even better learned in the playground. (Applause).
Sir William congratulated the headmaster and staff of the College on their record of achievement in the face of admittedly uncongenial conditions. He considered that it was one they might well be proud of.
After presenting the prizes, His Excellency, at the request of the headmaster, unveiled a photograph of Mr. A.H.Crook, for some years headmaster of the College. In doing so he said that he had not the pleasure of having known Mr. Crook personally, but all present, no doubt, would know of his distinguished career. Personally, he thought it very fitting that a memento of Mr. Crook should be in Queen's College, toward whose success he had contributed so much. (Loud applause).
It was previously stated by Mr. de Rome that the photograph was the gift of an old Queen's College boy who wished to remain anonymous.
His Excellency, upon arrival, was accompanied by Lady Peel, Sir W.W.Hornell, Mr. G.P. de Martin, and Mr. Wong Kwong tin.
Boy Scouts.
The 12th Troop of Hong Kong Boy Scouts (attached to Queen's College) was restarted in May under the enthusiastic leadership of Mr. Ashton Hill of the University. We are strong enough to run two patrols.
The activities of the Queen's College branch of the Y.M.C.A. have increased greatly during the year and they now undertake much important extra mural work. They are in charge of the large basement under this hall and have equipped it wonderfully well with ping pong tables, chess boards, English and Chinese libraries, reading tables with a plentiful supply of English and Chinese periodicals. The place is invariably crowded with boys. They have organised tournaments, competitions and walking picnics. For a month during the Midsummer holidays a group of these boys, assisted by girls from the Belilios Public School, ran a daily school here in our covered playground for the poor children in the vicinity of the College. The hours were 9-1 and the average daily attendance was 112, and many applicants had to be refused admission. It was a most interesting experiment: the subjects taken were Chinese, Bible, Arithmetic, General Knowledge, Songs, Handwork and Games, and the display of handwork in this hall at the end was a great credit to Li Ching-fu, one of our own pupils, and his staff of coworkers.