| This school, of which we give an illustration, was started about a month since by persons prominent in the Methodist churches of New York; it is called the Chinese Methodist Mission, and is situated in Mott Street. Although under the auspices of the Methodist Church, no fund has as yet been set aside for its use, the school having been supported by contributions from people of different denominations. |
|
|
||
| The Bible House has furnished Testaments, and the Methodist Book Concern hymn-books. The purpose of the school is the instruction of Chinamen in the English language and the Christian religion. The school for instruction in English is open every evening during the week, excepting Saturday, from half past seven till ten. The sessions of the Sunday-school are in the afternoon and evening. The average nightly attendance at the English school is about fifteen. The ages of the pupils range from about eighteen years upward, some of them being quite far advanced in years. The more advanced scholars are able to read from Third Readers, write from dictation, and perform examples in multiplication and division, whilst the new-comers are at the alphabet. The quickness which the majority of them show in learning is quite surprising. A noticeable thing is their good humor and lack of sensitiveness when a blunder has been made. The companions of the blundering laugh at his mistake, and he is not slow to join them when he discovers his error. There are two regular teachers, and generally one or more chance ones. The chief person in charge is Miss Netta Milwood, assisted by D.G.B. Haxton. All of the teachers are volunteers. The beginners are generally taught from the blackboard. The more advanced sit around a table, where the teachers attend to them, dictating words for writing, assisting them in arithmetic, or hearing them read. The Chinamen who come to the school state that their object in learning our language is to fit themselves for higher grades of employment than they are now able to obtain. |
Website and all Content © 1998-1999 HarpWeek, LLC
Please report problems to webmaster@harpweek.com