Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1869-08-14
A Chinese School in San Francisco,

The subject of the education of the
Chinese in San Francisco has attracted
considerable attention for months. The
first efforts were made in the interior
towns and met with but poor encourage
ment. Both in Sacramento aud San Jose.
buildings occupied by those engaged in
this philanthropic enterprise were mobbcd
and burned. In San Francisco persons
who engaged in the work were threat
ened with loss of property il not of life.
Notwithstanding these threats, however,
the work OF educating these foreigners
was commenced by few onterprising
men and women, and the results thus far
have greatly exceeded their cxpectatio
On the 10th of January last, a Chinese
Sabbath School was started in connec-
tion with DIR. Scudder's church. The
school opened with eight pupils, and the
number in attendance constantly increas-
ed. The greatest number OF pupils ever
present at one time was 1877, but the i'll
terest in the school-rooms seems con-
stantly increasing. So great is the in
terest manifested by the Chinese to learn,
that long before the hour arrives for the
opening of the school, they assemble in
the vicinity. The doors of the chapel
are opened at about 1890, or directly
after the conclusion of the regular morn
ing service. The school is not regularly
called to order until o'clock, but teach
ers are on hand from the time of Open
ing the doors and commence their work.
The work of the teachers is all voluntary,
and seems to be purely labor of love.
The Chinese are divided into classes, and
taught reading, spelling, arithmetic and
geography, according to their ability
and evident desire to learn. Upon a
visit to the school, we were surprised to
see such large and orderly attendance
of pupils, each of whom seemed extreme
ly anxious to make the most of the op-
portunity afforded him for acquiring
knowledge of the English language and
the rudiments taught. AS rule, the
pupils were orderly and quiet in their
manner, and showed the greatest respect
toward their teachers. There were pres
ent at our last visit 1O7 pupils. After
the school had been called to order by
the Superintendent, the pupils advanced
to the centre Of the room, while the
teachers took their positions on the right,
left and in the rear. The Supreint endent
and assistants then gave the pupils les
sons from the blackboard in realing and
spelling. The singing exercises followed.
The hymn to be sung is printed in large
letters, and stretched on cloth over
frame, elevated at such height as to be
visible to all. The musical exercises are
accompanied upon parlor organ. The
hymn is sung by the Americans and Chi
nese together, and afterward repeated by
the latter. When sung by the Chinese
pupils alone, the words were each pro-
nOunced clearly and distinctly, and the
time kept was excellent. Among tho
most noticeable features of the school is
the class in geography. The knowledge
which they display would seem incredi-
BILE. The Superintendent says that he
has never found a more docile set of pu-
pills or those more anxious to acquire
knowledge. The principal effort now
made by the Superintendent and teach
ers is to instruct them in the rudments
of the English language and morals,
without interfering with their religious
prejudices. Education upon the latter
point will follow later. As an evidence
OF the capability of these pupils, it may
be well to mention the fact that class
Of the most ignorant portion of the Chi
ncse have within four months, with only
the Sunday teaching, become able to
read English quite fuently.
Aha California.