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diff --git a/44614-0.txt b/44614-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..97db86b --- /dev/null +++ b/44614-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,864 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44614 *** + + DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, + BUREAU OF EDUCATION. + + + PROGRESS OF WESTERN EDUCATION + IN + CHINA AND SIAM. + + + DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, + BUREAU OF EDUCATION, + _Washington, August 3, 1880._ + +The attention of school officers and teachers is invited to the +following interesting accounts of the progress of western ideas and +educational methods in China and Siam, forwarded to the Department of +State by the United States minister at Peking and the United States +consul at Bangkok, respectively. + + JOHN EATON, + _Commissioner._ + + + WASHINGTON: + GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. + 1880. + + + + + CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO WESTERN EDUCATION IN CHINA AND SIAM. + + * * * * * + + I. CHINA. + + + _Mr. Evarts to Mr. Schurz._ + + + DEPARTMENT OF STATE, + _Washington, May 12, 1880._ + +SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith, for the benefit of the +Bureau of Education, copies of dispatches Nos. 600 and 612 from our +legation at Peking, detailing the progress of western education in +China. + +The inclosure with No. 600, being printed matter, is too voluminous +for copying, but will be sent for perusal if desired. + +I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, + + WM. M. EVARTS. + + * * * * * + + _Mr. Seward to Mr. Evarts._ + +No. 600.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, + _Peking, February 21, 1880._ + +SIR: There has lately been published in the North China Daily News, at +Shanghai, a statement, from the pen of Mr. John Freyer, of work done +in the "translations department" of the arsenal at Shanghai. + +This so-called arsenal is a large establishment, in which vessels of +war are built, guns cast, and small arms made. It employs, or did +employ a few years ago, on the occasion of my last visit to it, about +fifteen hundred hands. These were all Chinese, with the exception of +some half dozen superintendents and specialists. It had grown to these +dimensions in a very few years, and appeared likely to receive the +continued support of the government. + +I was aware that a scientific school and a department of translations +had been established in connection with the arsenal, but I was not +prepared to learn that so much has been accomplished by the latter of +these as appears from Mr. Freyer's report. Of what the school is doing +I am not informed at the moment, but it appears that a very large +number of our text books have been translated into Chinese in the +translations department, and that the Chinese connected with it have +shown a degree of zeal which promises much for the future. + +While referring you to Mr. Freyer's very interesting paper for the +details of this work, I may remark that the education of the Chinese +in our knowledge is going forward in many ways. You are familiar with +the facts in regard to the educational mission in the United States. + +About one hundred and twenty young Chinamen, supported and paid by +this government, are now in various schools and colleges in our +country, gaining all that is available in the way of knowledge from us +to bring it into use here. Perhaps half as many more are studying in +Europe. Here at Peking, the university presided over by Dr. Martin is +progressing very favorably. There is a school at Foochow connected +with the arsenal there, and another one at Canton. + +All of these educational enterprises are sustained by the government. +Besides these, however, there are many schools, of a more or less +advanced order, in charge of and supported by the several foreign +missionary bodies, where other branches than those directly connected +with the moral and religious purposes of the missionaries are taught. +Educational work is fortunately of such a nature that its results are +felt in a constantly increasing measure. It has been progressive +everywhere else, and there is enough in Mr. Freyer's paper alone to +show that it will be progressive here. The people are eager to avail +themselves of the opportunities offered to them, and the government +appears as the patron of western knowledge. + +Under such circumstances it is possible to take a hopeful view of the +future of China, despite all her conservatism. + +I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, + + GEORGE F. SEWARD. + + * * * * * + + _Mr. Seward to Mr. Evarts._ + +No. 612.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, + _Peking, February 29, 1880._ + +SIR: Recurring to my dispatch No. 600, in regard to the work done in +the "translations department" of the Shanghai arsenal, I have now the +honor to hand to you a leading article which I have taken from the +Shanghai Courier, in regard to foreign education for the Chinese, and +to say that I have asked our several consular officers to report to me +what is being done at their several ports in the direction indicated. + +I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, + + GEORGE F. SEWARD. + + * * * * * + + [Extract from the Shanghai Courier of Friday, January 30, 1880.] + + _Foreign education for the Chinese._ + +A greater knowledge of western civilization than is now possessed is +essential to the progress of the Middle Kingdom. To individual +Chinese, foreign education is something of a fortune, and is the +surest capital with which they can be invested. The saying that +"knowledge is power" is well borne out in this case, for foreign +knowledge is almost certain to obtain for a Chinaman a lucrative +appointment and an improved social position. Parents are now realizing +this fact, and many of the well-to-do Chinese are anxious to send +their sons to Europe or America to be educated. The advantage of such +an education can hardly be overestimated in the case of those who have +before them official or public careers. + +At the same time there are considerable drawbacks to going abroad, and +it may be questioned whether, in many instances, equally good results +could not be secured without incurring so great a loss of time and +expense--a loss so considerable as to prevent the benefit from being +enjoyed by all but the wealthy or those supported by other than the +family funds. For of course the sons of even what may be called the +middle classes cannot afford to leave their country in order to be +educated, and, unless they can receive foreign instruction in China, +will not receive it at all. It cannot be denied that residence abroad +possesses some advantages which cannot be obtained in China; yet, +except in rare cases, those particular advantages are not the most +needed. + +Why should not useful knowledge be imparted to the Chinese as well in +China as it can be in Europe or America? The drawbacks to a Chinaman's +residing away from his home for the time needed to follow a regular +course of instruction are sometimes not duly considered. The Chinese +are apt, as has been pointed out, to be "too much Europeanized." +Especially are they likely to neglect their native language, and so on +their return lessen their opportunities of usefulness and prospects of +promotion. Particularly is this so with a large class who hope to +qualify themselves for the position of professors. A teacher must not +only be acquainted with his subject, but he must also be able to +impart his knowledge to others; which it is impossible he can do if he +has only an imperfect acquaintance with the language which is the +medium of communication. It should always be borne in mind that +foreign knowledge, though exceedingly useful, is not all-important to +a Chinaman, and that even its usefulness may be greatly diminished if +it is obtained at cost of the neglect of his mother tongue. Looking, +therefore, to the expense of being educated abroad, and to its serious +inconveniences, especially to the fact that it must ever be beyond the +reach of all but the rich, it is of great importance to consider how a +similar education can be had in China. It would be very incorrect to +speak of the local polytechnic as a failure, but it is, as yet, a long +way from having realized the objects of its promoters. Its educational +facilities are great, and though it is now doing good and useful work, +we trust to see it become something very different to what it is at +the present moment. There are few institutions in Hong Kong which have +conferred greater benefits on the Chinese than the Central School; and +it is surprising that an attempt has not been made to establish +something of the kind at Shanghai. The St. John's College will, it is +hoped, contribute towards supplying what is a seriously felt want. + +At this institution the course of instruction comprises the English +language and literature, geography, history, the evidences of +Christianity, natural science, mathematics, natural philosophy, +chemistry, astronomy, mental and moral philosophy, and international +law. This is a sufficiently extended curriculum to begin with, but it +is intended to enlarge it if the project be successful. Pupils are +required to be fifteen years of age and to possess some knowledge of +the Chinese classics. We believe that the Hong Kong Central School +owes much of its success to the purely secular character of its +teaching; and many who take great interest in the foreign education of +the Chinese will perhaps note with regret the religious element of St. +John's College. But the two institutions are of a different character, +and it could hardly be expected that the work carried on at St. John's +should be purely secular. The promoters have, however, met possible +objections in a spirit which, under the circumstances, must, we think, +be considered liberal. They wish it to be distinctly understood "that +St. John's College is a literary and scientific school, and not per se +a theological institute." A student must attend the daily prayers at +chapel and the usual Sunday services, but in other respects he is free +to devote himself to the secular side of the daily routine of class +work. Many people would have been glad if the authorities had allowed +attendance at prayers and Sunday service to be voluntary, and probably +the chief end in view might have been better reached in that manner. +Yet, though the requirement may restrict the usefulness of the +institution, preventing it being generally availed of, we are pleased +to call attention to it as being calculated to confer great advantages +on the Chinese youth, and to offer it the encouragement of publicity. +It may be well to note that the charge for board and tuition is +exceedingly moderate. + + * * * * * + + _Mr. Hay to Mr. Schurz._ + + DEPARTMENT OF STATE, + _Washington, August 13, 1880._ + +SIR: I have the honor to inclose herein, for transmission to the +Bureau of Education, a copy of a recent dispatch from the late +minister to China, Mr. Geo. F. Seward, covering the replies which he +has received from the United States consular officers in that empire +as to the efforts which are being made for the education of the +Chinese in foreign branches of knowledge, either by the government of +China, by private enterprise, or by missionary efforts. + +I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, + + JOHN HAY, + _Acting Secretary._ + + * * * * * + + _Mr. Seward to Mr. Evarts._ + +No. 705.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, + _Peking, June 11, 1880._ + +SIR: I have the honor to hand to you herewith copies of the answers +which have been received from our consular officers in this empire to +the inquiry made in a circular addressed to them as to efforts being +made to educate the Chinese in foreign branches of knowledge, either +by the government of China, by private enterprise, or by missionary +effort. The circular referred to was forwarded to the Department with +my dispatch No. 600. + +While these reports are not as full as I could have wished, they still +furnish an outline of the work which is being done, and may be of +interest to the Department. + +I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, + + GEORGE F. SEWARD. + + * * * * * + + _Mr. Goldsborough to Mr. Seward._ + +No. 107.] AMOY, _April 23, 1880._ + +SIR: In response to your dispatch No. 86, of February 27, 1880, I beg +to state that there are two private English schools at this port for +the education of Chinese, conducted by native born Chinese, who +possess a fair knowledge of the English language, but there is no +institution of the kind founded or supported by the government. + +The missionaries have several schools of their own for the tuition of +Chinese boys and girls in the Chinese language. + +I have the honor, &c., + + W. ELWELL GOLDSBOROUGH. + + * * * * * + + _Mr. Cheshire to Mr. Seward._ + +No. 55.] FOOCHOW, _March 29, 1880._ + +SIR: I have had the honor to receive your dispatch No. 78, calling +upon me to furnish you with such information as may be available to me +in regard to the education of Chinese in foreign languages within this +consular district, whether in schools founded and supported by the +Chinese government, or by private enterprise, or by missionaries, as +far as the secular branches are concerned, and also to report upon the +schools established at Hong Kong by the colonial government. + +I now beg to submit the following report: + +The Tung wen Kwan is the only scholastic institution under government +auspices for teaching foreign knowledge in Canton. It was established +by order of the Tsung li Yamen about sixteen years ago. It is under +the official control of the viceroy, the haikwan (superintendent of +customs), the Tartar general, and two lieutenant Tartar generals, but +the practical control is left almost entirely in the hands of the +Tartar general, to whom it affords opportunities of patronage, for the +staff is large, and the members thereof not only benefit by the +salaries they receive but their official appointment as officers of +the college (Tung wen Kwan) forms a stepping-stone to promotion in +other branches of the public service. The staff consists of three +superintendents, (the chief of whom holds rank about equivalent to +that of a major general), three Chinese teachers, a foreign teacher +with a Chinese assistant, two Chinese clerks, doorkeepers, cooks, and +other servants. The number of students is fixed at thirty, of whom +twenty are classed as students proper and ten as supernumerary +students, the latter being intended to fill vacancies as they occur in +the former; and when, from various causes, the total number falls to +twenty or twenty-five, fresh supernumeraries are added to make up the +number. The students proper receive a small pay of three taels a +month, but the supernumeraries receive nothing except a free breakfast +every day. + +It is difficult to define the raison d'être of the Tung wen Kwan +College; in theory it is established to provide the Chinese government +with a staff of interpreters and persons conversant with foreign +literature and foreign habits of thought; but, so far as can be judged +by patent facts, the patronage above referred to is the element most +appreciated, and it may be well to notice the extent to which the +theoretical object has been carried out, and how far the Chinese +government has availed itself of the material for the production of +which something like eight hundred dollars a month has been expended +for the last sixteen years in the maintenance of the college. + +About ten years ago fourteen students were drafted from Canton to the +Peking college. Of these, five have retired from various causes, six +are still attached to the Peking College, and the remaining three have +appointments in legations abroad, one in Washington, one in London, +and one in Japan. Since 1870 not one student has been drafted to +Peking; none of the Canton students have in any way been called upon +to render service to their government. Most of them have received an +honorary literary degree (Hsin Tsai) equivalent to B.A., and three or +four of them are nominally interpreters, for which they receive a +small additional pay. Year after year passes, and boys of 17 grow up +to be men of 27, marry and become fathers, and go on with their +foreign studies without so much as a word of encouragement from their +own authorities. Under such discouraging circumstances it must be that +studying is often done in a perfunctory way; and yet, while some of +the students have, as I understand, a very good knowledge of English, +wanting only practice outside the school walls to render it equal to +that of any Chinaman who has not had the advantage of living abroad, +they constantly witness men of less technical knowledge than +themselves, men of lower stamp altogether, men picked up here and +there without any proper steps being taken to ascertain their fitness, +called upon to perform the very duties for the performance of which +the students of the Tung wen Kwan are in theory specially educated. + +The course of study, I am informed, consists chiefly of the English +language, together with but subordinate to which there are geography, +arithmetic, history, algebra, mathematics, and astronomy. A very small +proportion of the students have made any progress in algebra or +mathematics, few are even fair arithmeticians, and much that they are +called upon to learn of geography, history, and astronomy is soon +forgotten. This arises from no want of ability, but from an utter want +of encouragement on the part of the Chinese authorities for the +students to trouble themselves with such studies. Without a reasonable +knowledge of the language they are liable, on the motion of the +foreign teacher, to be dismissed from the school, and in the +acquisition of that they are to some extent buoyed up with hope, a +hope that sometimes becomes lamentably faint, that the language will +ultimately be of service to them; but with respect to the other +branches, I am given to understand, no person in authority, except the +foreign teacher, seems to know or care whether they are taught or not. + +The students consist almost entirely of Tartars (including bannermen). +Originally about one-third were Chinese, but it was found that, after +learning English at the expense of government, these latter generally +disappeared. The Tartars are much more bound to the government, and +are loyal, both from training and self-interest. As young men, they +are far more noble and honorable in their character than the Chinese, +lacking in a great measure the low cunning which characterizes the +latter, especially when they get official employment. But it is hard +to say how far their natural nobility and honor would suffer if they +were thrown into that vortex of corruption and dishonesty which +pertains to official life. + +I am informed that there has, for the past year or two, been an +intention to add a German and a French department to the Canton +College, and that extensive premises have been erected for this +purpose, but some difficulty about funds seems to have caused further +steps to be postponed. + +_Private schools._--There are no private schools worthy of the name in +Canton for teaching foreign languages. Now and then a small school is +opened, in which English is professed to be taught by a man whose +knowledge of that language is too limited to fit him for other +employment, and after a brief struggle these schools die out, one +after another. There is no doubt that the advantages offered by the +government schools in Hong Kong are too great to enable private +schools in Canton to compete with them. + +_Missionary schools._--None of the missionaries in Canton teach +English or any other foreign language to their Chinese pupils now, nor +have they for some years. They found by experience that it was very +difficult to teach English to their pupils because of their inaptitude +to learn western languages; that the object of the majority who came +to their schools (formerly) to learn English was simply to get a +sufficient knowledge of that language to enable them to get some +lucrative employment with foreigners, and as soon as they had acquired +a little smattering of English they disappeared and passed away beyond +their Christian instruction. + +I shall endeavor to furnish you with some particulars in regard to the +schools established at Hong Kong by the colonial government shortly. + +I have the honor, &c., + + F. D. CHESHIRE. + + * * * * * + + _Mr. Scruggs to Mr. Seward._ + +No. 21.] CHINKIANG, _March 24, 1880._ + +SIR: I had the honor to receive on the 21st instant your dispatch No. +63, of the 27th February last. In response thereto I regret to say +there is not a school of any kind, native or foreign, public or +private, secular or religious, within this district in which Chinese +are educated by foreign methods or in foreign knowledge. The +missionary schools are all conducted in the native language, and their +curriculum, confined to purely religious and sectarian instruction. A +few young men among the native residents of this port take lessons in +the English language from a native interpreter educated at Hong Kong +but now employed here in the customs service. But they seek to know no +more of our language than is barely necessary to aid them in business +transactions with foreigners, and what they do thus acquire is little +else than the barbarous and childish dialect known as "Pigein +English." I know of but one exception, and that is the case of General +Wong, the military commander here, an educated Chinaman, who is +ambitious to enter the diplomatic service of his country. + +I am, sir, &c., + + WILLIAM L. SCRUGGS. + + * * * * * + + _Mr. De Lano to Mr. Seicard._ + +No. 164.] FOOCHOW, _May 5, 1880._ + +SIR: I have had the honor to receive your dispatch No. 109, asking me +for such information as may be available to me in regard to the +education of Chinese in foreign knowledge in this consular district. + +There are at the Foochow arsenal two schools, one under English and +the other under French management. In the former the number of +students varies between 30 and 50, and the studies pursued are +English, arithmetic, geometry, geography, grammar, trigonometry, +algebra, and navigation. In a four and a half years' course the +students receive from the government a monthly stipend of $4. + +There is a naval and a mechanical branch of the same school, each +having an average of 25 students receiving the same monthly allowance +from the government, which also pays a very liberal salary to the +professors in charge. + +The school under French management has about 40 pupils, in four +divisions, studying French, arithmetic, elements of algebra and +geometry, trigonometry, analytic geometry and calculus, mechanical +engineering, transmission of power and friction. The branches of this +school are a school of design and school of apprentices, the pupils +pursuing many of the studies enumerated above and receiving the same +stipend of $4 a month. The professor is also very liberally paid. + +I know of no schools founded by private enterprise in which foreign +studies are pursued. There are several schools for both males and +females conducted by foreign missionaries in which other than secular +branches of study are pursued, say, the elementary branches, such as +geography, mathematics, astronomy, &c., but all in the Chinese +language. + +I am unable at present to state the number of pupils usually in +attendance in these latter schools. + +I have the honor to be, &c., + + M. M. DE LANO. + + * * * * * + + _Mr. Shepard to Mr. Seward._ + +No. 45.] HANKOW, _April 10, 1880._ + +SIR: Referring to your No. 85, on the subject of educating natives in +foreign sciences, I have to report that I cannot learn of anything +done in my district of any moment. At sundry times some foreigners +wanting employment have opened small schools in Hankow, intending to +teach people of any age to read English. The results have been +inconsiderable, as the enterprise has in all cases been abandoned as +soon as more lucrative pursuits have been available. Besides this, I +know of no efforts made in the direction of your inquiry except some +work of Dr. A. C. Bumr, of the American Episcopal mission at Wu-Chang, +who, before he left, gave some instruction to a few converts in the +theory and practice of medicine. In his view his results were +encouraging, but not fully developed. + +I am informed also that Dr. Manby, now located here in charge of the +London Mission Hospital, is preparing a system of instruction, and +intends soon to put it in operation, for the systematic training of +native pupils in the principles and science of physiology, with +surgical and medical training, in a course of some years' duration in +connection with his important hospital work. Beyond these I know of +nothing done in the line of your investigation. + +I am, sir, &c., + + ISAAC F. SHEPARD. + + * * * * * + + _Mr. Bandinel to Mr. Seward._ + +No. 42-625.] NEW CHWANG, _March 30, 1880._ + +SIR: In response to your excellency's dispatch No. 66, I have the +honor to state that, as far as I can learn, there is not within the +three Mantchoorian provinces any school founded or supported by native +official or private enterprise in which foreign knowledge is imparted +to Chinese students. From inquiries among the missionaries I learn +that-- + +The _Roman Catholics_ have a college under foreign supervision, +wherein 26 pupils are instructed in Latin, philosophy, theology, and +the elements of geography, mathematics, &c., and whence 4 pupils have +been ordained as priests. + +The _Irish Presbyterian Mission_ has a boys' school under the +supervision of a clerical missionary, wherein 20 scholars, from 9 to +13 years of age, are instructed in geography, penmanship, and the +course of (4) reading books used in the government schools at Hong +Kong. They will learn, when more advanced, arithmetic and other +subjects. There is also the nucleus of a girls' school, only two +pupils, supervised by the missionary's wife, who teaches them plain +sewing in addition to the above branches of knowledge. + +Mr. Carson also contemplates starting a day school in the heart of the +city, in connection with the above mentioned which are held in his +compound. + +The medical missionary of the Irish Presbyterian Mission has in his +own compound a boys' school with 15 scholars, and in an adjacent +building a girls' school with 9 scholars. Many of these are too young +to learn much, but the elder ones learn geography (Wade's book), and +three boys and three girls are taught to read and write English. + +The _Scotch United Presbyterians_ have a mission here, but apparently +neither in their boys' school, recently discontinued, nor in their +girls' school, which numbers 14 scholars, has any foreign secular +education been, except indirectly, imparted. The girls, however, are +learning foreign needlework. + +I have the honor, &c., + + J. J. F. BANDINEL. + + * * * * * + +MY DEAR MR. BANDINEL: In our boys' school, which we have now +discontinued, our object was to give the children of our church +members a Chinese classical education, such as they would receive in a +first class native school. Our principle was that of the grammar +schools at home. Outside of the regular lessons, there was daily the +"religious hour," or morning and evening class, where I instructed +them in religious truth. I only bound myself to spend one hour per day +with the scholars, and therefore never formally laid myself out to +train them in foreign knowledge. But I have, of course, introduced all +manner of subjects in my illustrations, making it a point incidentally +to introduce whatever knowledge of historical and scientific subjects +I myself possessed. The school room has always been well supplied with +books. I think we have had almost every foreign work which has been +translated, and we take in for the school, 1st, the Globe Magazine; +2d, the Scientific Magazine; 3d, the Child's Paper. I have several +times had teachers who took a great interest in these periodicals, and +who did what they could to make the subjects intelligible to their +pupils. We still continue a flourishing girls' school. We also teach +the Chinese classics there, and with great success; though the +classics are, as it were, taught incidentally, and scripture history, +&c., forms the bulk of the teaching. The girls are being taught +foreign needlework, but have not made any very great attainments. But +in most cases the direct teaching has borne mostly on Chinese +subjects, and we have trusted to the personal influence of the +foreigners to communicate foreign knowledge. + +Yours, sincerely, + + J. MACINTYRE. + + * * * * * + +MY DEAR MR. BANDINEL: In reply to your letter of the 18th instant, I +beg to state that the secular subjects taught in the school are +geography, penmanship, and the course of reading books taught in the +government school at Hong Kong. + +These reading books, four in number, in a graduated series, treat of a +great variety of subjects, both foreign and native. As soon as the +children are far enough advanced, they will be taught arithmetic and +other subjects. + +The school is a free boarding school, supported by the mission, and +our object is to train for ourselves a staff of native helpers. + +Believe me, &c., + + JAMES CARSON. + + * * * * * + +MY DEAR MR. BANDINEL: The only secular instruction given in my school +is in geography. I have given half a dozen children, three girls and +three boys, lessons in English. The lessons are merely in reading and +writing. + +This is all I have to say in reply to your communication of the 11th +instant. + +I am yours, very truly. + + J. M. HUNTER. + + * * * * * + + [Translation.] + +MOST ILLUSTRIOUS SIR: I make a brief answer to your excellency +concerning the inquiry of the most noble minister in charge of the +legation for the consulate of America in Peking. + +In our region, Mantchooria--that is, in the three provinces of Mukden, +Kirin, and Saghalien--there has existed, so far as I know, no school +or institution founded by the Chinese government or established by +private citizens in which pupils may study European sciences and +acquire some knowledge of the arts of foreign nations. + +As regards the Catholic mission, which has been intrusted to my care, +we have founded one college, with Drs. Boyer and Hinard as rectors, in +which twenty-six pupils study Latin language, philosophy, and +theology, as well as geography, mathematics, &c. Four graduates from +this college have been ordained priests already, and are offering +themselves with most pleasing readiness for the service of preaching +and directing the Christians of the region. + +Nor, indeed, am I able to give your excellency any information upon +the subject of your question of yesterday. Meanwhile I pray God that +He may bestow all blessings upon your excellency, whom I desire to +make certain of my respect. + +Most devotedly, yours in Christ, + + C. DUBRAIL, + _Bishop of Bolina, Vicar Apostolic of Mantchooria._ + + * * * * * + + _Mr. Lord to Mr. Seward._ + +No. 119.] NINGPO, _April 20, 1880._ + +SIR: I am sorry that I have not been able to reply earlier to your +dispatch No. 57, requesting such information as I might have in regard +to the education of Chinese in foreign knowledge within this consular +district. + +Nothing, I believe, has been done in this respect by the Chinese +government or by Chinese officials in this province, either to found +or sustain schools in which foreign knowledge has been taught. Nor has +anything worth speaking of been accomplished by private enterprise, +outside of missionaries. There was a small attempt made here a few +years ago to get up an English school for natives, but it came to +nothing, very likely through the incapacity of the person who +undertook it. + +Missionaries from the beginning of their work here have had schools of +various kinds. The object of these schools has, of course, been +religious. Yet, as in religious schools at home, secular knowledge has +been taught in them to some extent. + +Missionaries in this part of China have not, as a general thing, +encouraged their pupils to learn English, but they have tried to teach +them history, geography, mathematics, philosophy, astronomy, +physiology, medicine, &c., and their efforts have, no doubt, been +attended with some success. The number thus instructed may not have +been very large, and bearing in mind the great difficulties under +which the instruction must have been given, we can hardly suppose that +the results have been very great; still, something has been done. A +beginning, at least, has been made in the work of a higher and better +education among this people. Though aside from these mission schools +there have been in this place no organized efforts for the education +of Chinese in foreign knowledge, one will yet often meet with Chinese +who have acquired more or less of this knowledge. Some of these have +been taught in schools elsewhere, either at other ports or in foreign +countries, and others have, in one way or another, been so related +that this knowledge has in various degrees come to them. And these +instances are continually increasing. The number of Chinese who speak +English, and who have more or less English education, is less here +than at some of the other ports. They naturally go to places where +there is a demand for these qualifications. There has, so far, been +very little demand for them here. + +This reminds me of a matter to which I have long been wishing to call +your attention. It is the inconvenience and disadvantage under which +consular officers are placed in being required to write their +dispatches in Chinese to Chinese officials. I wish to say something on +this subject, but perhaps I had better do it in another letter, and +when I have more leisure. + +I have the honor, &c., + + EDWARD C. LORD. + + * * * * * + + + + + II. SIAM. + + + _Mr. Evarts to Mr. Schurz._ + + DEPARTMENT OF STATE, + _Washington, May 17, 1880._ + +SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith, for the information of +your Department, a copy of dispatch No. 150, dated March 18, 1880, +from the consul at Bangkok, Siam, in relation to the system of +education lately introduced into Siam. + +I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, + + WM. M. EVARTS. + + * * * * * + + _Mr. Sickels to Mr. Payson._ + +No. 150.] CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, + _Bangkok, Siam, March 18, 1880._ + +SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Department +dispatches Nos. 57, 58, and 59, dated respectively December 1 and 6, +1879, and January 6, 1880, all at hand by the same mail. + +In regard to the information required by the Department of the +Interior, referred to in No. 57, I have the honor to inclose a private +letter on the subject from Rev. Dr. McFarland, the principal of the +King's College and the originator and founder of the new system of +education lately introduced into the kingdom. This letter contains all +the information procurable on the subject. Dr. McFarland was for many +years in charge of the American Presbyterian mission schools in +Petchaburi, and is well qualified for the position to which he has +been transferred. + +Although too modest to claim any merit for himself in this new work, I +am satisfied from my own observation and the reports of the committees +who have the matter in charge, that our countryman's success in the +conduct of this new school has been fully up to the expectations +formed, has met with His Majesty's approval and given him full +satisfaction. I do not, however, think that this success, or indeed +any, if much greater, will induce the government to extend the area of +operation and establish at present any general school system +throughout the kingdom, or even at the prominent points. + +The Siamese are vast projectors and their ideas in the beginning are +large, but their plans taper very much and very abruptly as the charm +of novelty passes away and demands on the purse increase. There is, +besides, a strong party of the old régime who do not approve of +education in any form, particularly in foreign languages and studies, +who believe implicitly in the wisdom of their ancestors, and +obstinately oppose themselves to any attempt at removing the ancient +landmarks wherever posted. + +The party of progress, "Young Siam," appreciate the value of the old +adage, "The more haste the less speed," and their policy is to move +slowly and gradually, temporizing rather than raising bitter issues, +abiding their time, until its efflux shall have removed the more acrid +and influential members of the old conservative party and left the +field clear for the introduction of more modern and more enlightened +ideas. + +The King is young; the contemporaries and counsellors of his father +are old. He has all the advantage on his side and can afford to wait. +In the mean time the influence of this school is extending itself by +means of the younger branches through the principal families of the +kingdom, and can scarcely fail to produce in the new good time +favorable results. + +I am, sir, your obedient servant, + + DAVID B. SICKELS, + United States Consul. + + * * * * * + +MY DEAR MR. TORRY: In compliance with your request, I will now give +you some items of information in reference to the educational work +recently commenced in Siam. So far as I know, the desire for the +education of Siamese youth originated with His Majesty the King. + +Being in Bangkok in November, 1877, His Excellency Phya +Bhaskarawongse, the King's private secretary, sought a private +interview with me, and informed me that His Majesty desired to have a +school started in Bangkok, and asked me what I thought of taking +charge of it. I asked time to consider the subject. His excellency +then requested me to write out a plan for a school. In a few months +after this, I replied favorably to the proposition to take charge of a +school and also presented a plan. His excellency then secured for me +an audience with the King, at which time His Majesty informed me that +he had fully determined to have schools. + +About a year after this, or in October, 1878, I entered into an +engagement in an article with the committee appointed by the King to +take charge of a school for five years. That school was opened in +Bangkok on the 1st of January, 1879, with 50 scholars, mostly sons of +noblemen and a few princes. These 50 scholars were selected by the +committee, placed in the school under my care and control, and they +are taught and boarded at government expense. Day scholars receive +their tuition and books free, but are required to pay their boarding. +Some board at the school; others board at home. The whole number in +attendance during the first year was 104. The object of this school +was to furnish an education in the English and Siamese languages to as +many as can be accommodated. + +The King has not afforded educational advantages to the people +throughout the country, as has been stated. I think His Majesty wishes +to open other schools, but they must make an experiment with this one +first and see how it succeeds. This is the only government school in +the country where English is taught. + +There is a school numbering about 60 pupils and supported by the King +where the Siamese language only is taught. + +Besides these government schools there are several private schools, +besides those managed by the missionary societies. + +Yours, + + L. G. McFARLAND. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Progress of Western Education in China +and Siam, by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44614 *** |