-
7.The Contribution Made by Frederick Stewart (1836-1889) Through the Hong Kong Government Education System and Its Pupils, to the Modernization of China
- Hong Kong University Press, HKU
- Chapter
- Additional Information
7 The Contribution Made by Frederick Stewart (1836-1889) Through the Hong Kong Government Education System and Its Pupils, to the Modernization of China1 Gillian Bickley Given the feeling (particularly intense at the time when the United Kingdom handed Hon g Kon g bac k t o Chines e sovereignt y a t midnigh t o n 3 0 Jun e 1997) that Hon g Kon g has played an d ca n stil l play a part i n influencin g the development o f China , i t is interesting t o consider wha t influenc e th e Hong Kon g governmen t educatio n syste m ma y hav e had o n Chin a i n th e second half of the nineteenth century (shortly after Hong Kong came under a British administration) and also what the influence wa s of the man whom contemporaries calle d th e "Founde r o f Hon g Kon g Education. " D o th e results of such a study give any clue as to the future influenc e o f the Hong Kong government education system within China? Such a study does not seek to ignore the contribution of Hong Kong' s first western managed schools , which were conducted by missionaries, but more attention has previously been given to their history.2 An d in any case, after th e first few year s of the period under study, these schools also came under the government syste m which, from the n onwards, has given them a valued and financially supportiv e framework fo r their operation. Personal influenc e i s unquantifiable bu t may be testified t o in variou s ways. As fo r th e influenc e o f a foreig n educatio n syste m o n member s o f another culture , this seem s likely t o be related t o numbers expose d t o th e system, including its organization, curriculum and target languages taught . 118 GILLIA N BICKLE Y Also relevan t ar e expressions o f motivatio n an d result , a s perceived fro m both sides of the situation. At a time when intercourse between China and the West was increasing, following the signing of the Convention of Peking, Frederick Stewart arrived in Hong Kon g i n February 186 2 as the first headmaste r o f the new Hon g Kong Government Central School for Boys, and inspector of all Hong Kong government schools, to implement a new Hong Kong government initiative in educatio n fo r Chines e i n Hon g Kong . Hi s personalit y an d wor k soo n inspired confidence, praise and admiration and, on 30 June 1865, he became the first head of the government Education Department.3 Promote d outside the departmen t i n 1881 , Stewart continue d t o be th e government' s prim e advisor o n educationa l matter s unti l hi s earl y deat h i n Septembe r 1889. 4 Stewart's position was unique. Never again would a single individual have sole responsibility for the entire Hong Kong government education system , including the headship of its premier school. Table 7.1 Influenc e o f Frederick Stewar t (1836-1889) o n Hong Kong educatio n Hong Kong Governmen t Central Schoo l Hong Kong government educatio n (omitting the Central School ) A 1 5 February 186 2 ® - 7 March 187 8 ® B 7 March 1878®-1 9 Ma y 1881 ® C 1 9 May 188 1 ® - 2 9 September 1889 ® D 1 5 February 186 2 ® - 7 March 187 8 ® E 7 March 1878® - 25 March 187 9 ® F 2 5 March 187 9 ® - 2 9 September 188 9 ® 0 Arriva l in Hong Kon g® Departur e on home leav e® Replace d a s Inspector of School s® Resignatio n a s headmaster® Deat h Frederick Stewart's direct influence on Hong Kong education operated in two main spheres: the Hong Kong Government Central School (of which he was headmaster) and the remainder of Hong Kong government supporte d education (whic h included the government village schools an d the non-government grant-in-ai d schools , which — a s Inspector o f School s — h e examine d an d inspected). In 1879, his alma mater, the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, awarded him the honorary degre e o f LL.D...