Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-08-03
EDUCATION IN CHINA.
Hong Kong Now to Have University
Under British Auspices.

The return of the governor general
of the colony of Hong Kong, after sew
eral months in Great Britain, largely
to secure 200 endowment for
founding university under British
auspices in Hong Kong, has brought
the matter of higher education IN
China to critical point.
II seems also that there Is move
ment in Great Britain toward estab-
fishing similar institution IN North
China Cthe Yangtse Valley, which is
somewhat of rival movement How
ever, it is understood that the work
of the governor Of Hons Kong has
been successful ana that the Hong
Kong University is to be realized at
once.
The design of the governor Is to
teblish a university in Hong Kong
Of such scope and standing that the
young men of China may secure an
advanced education and degrees equal
to those granted by universities in Eu-
rope and America The university IS
to be non-sectarian although not free
from moral influence and restraint.
For example, students from mission
NtitS SIS IN Nitliit dttNilttAaS tAAt Ill
versity are To be maintained in mis-
sion houses corresponding to fraternity
houses in American universities, While
those students from Chinese govern
mental schools whom il is desired to
keep apart from mission influences VIII
be in similar Establishments controlled
by proper Chinese authority While
the university is 10 he non-sectarian.
II Is calculated to advance British in
terests in China. For this reason there
is said TO be more or less quiet oppo-
sitIon to the enterprise in China. Its
work viii be along literary lines, medi-
cine, in engineering and economics,
but not in law
It is significant that these movements
have come at the same time, and it
is quite evident that within five years
of the change in educational methods
in China the actual present need of
advanced university advantages has
been felt. This Is indicated from an
other standpoint in the new railway
school at Pekin, wherein Chinese stu
dents qualified therefor by work done
elsewhere, pursue advanced work cal
eulated to fit them for constructing
and operating railways in China. In
short, throughout the Empire there is
indicated need fer advanced univer-
sity work and an appreciation of the
practical advantages of ID university
training in connection with China's
industrial. commercial ana general
economic development.
The present demand for university
work is in anticipation of general Chi
nese Government plans for colleges
and universities. announced in its edd-
eational reform ediet of five years
ago, but which it was impossible to
inaugurate in all its entirety at once.
Under the governmental plan each
province is 10 have its university.
which starts with the elementary
schools in each village. the higher or
grammar grade schools, the high
schools. in ascending scale. all con-
trolled by provincial boards of educa-
ton which act more or less directly
through subordinate boards in each
taotaIs and ub-magistrates district.
Tho elementary schools come first.
Few Government establishments have
yet reached fun college grade. largely
because OF lack OF money, but in many
cases because Of lack Of students who
have progressed in Western learning
far enough 10 begin proper college
work. Late statistics report the total
number Of educational institutions in
China at S51sS, of which primary
schools number 34.210. high schools.
colleges, girls seninaries and indus
trial schools making up the balance.
They report 63.s37 persons engaged in
educational work, 55,240 being at work
in elementary grades. In these sever
al institutions there are S74642 stu
dents, OF which 7s0. 825 are of eiemen-
tary grade Taking 400. 10000 as the
population Of China, this gives one
student for each 1914 inha bitants. These
figures, while not showing exactly
what institutions they include, give
some idea Of what has been accom-
plished IN the last few years and what
may reasonably be expected in the
course OF the next few years.-Consul
General Anderson in Consular Report.
MENUS FOR CHILDREN.