General Report on Public Instruction in the Lower Provinces of the Bengal Presidency (1844-45)/Special Reports/Hindoo College

Page:General report on the public instruction in the lower provinces of the Bengal Presidency (1844-45).djvu/33 Page:General report on the public instruction in the lower provinces of the Bengal Presidency (1844-45).djvu/34 In the supplementary report submitted to the Council of Education in May, 1844, it was stated that the senior students of the College had been allowed to attend a course of Lectures on Law, delivered by the Advocate-General once a week, between the months of October 1843 and February 1844; and that an examination of the students of the institution who attended the Law Lectures had been held, the answers to the questions being examined by Sir H. Seton, who adjudged the prize of a gold medal to Iswer Chunder Mittre. It was also mentioned that the prizes for proficiency in Adam Smith’s Moral Sentiments, given by the Hon’ble the President of the Council of Education, were contended for at this institution on the 11th March, and that the gold medal was awarded to Anundo Kissen Bose, and the silver medal to Rajnarayen Bose.

The prize of a gold medal awarded to Iswer Chunder Mittre upon the successful result of his examination in Law, and the prizes of gold and silver medals awarded to Anundo Kissen Bose and Rajnarayen Bose, for proficiency in Adam Smith's Moral Sentiments, alluded to in the preceding paragraph, were presented by the Right Hon’ble the Governor-General to the respective candidates, on the 9th October 1844.

The Advocate-General delivered a second course of Law Lectures at this institution between the months of May and August last. An examination of the students who attended that course has been held by him. The papers containing the questions and answers were submitted to the Hon’ble C. H. Cameron, who again assigned the first place in order of merit to Iswer Chunder Mittre.

But as a medal had been recently awarded to him, the Advocate-General proposed that a present of Books should be substituted on the present occasion, which has been approved of by Government. The Advocate-General further suggested that a present of books should be made to Jogace Chunder Ghose, whose performance was nearly equal to that of Iswer Chunder Mittre.

The scholarship examinations were held on the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th and 7th October, under the immediate superintendence of the following gentlemen:—

Senior Scholarships.

Page:General report on the public instruction in the lower provinces of the Bengal Presidency (1844-45).djvu/36 Page:General report on the public instruction in the lower provinces of the Bengal Presidency (1844-45).djvu/37 scholarships. The scholarsliip examination, therefore, constituted the annual general examination of the senior department.

In English the first and fourth classes of the junior department were examined by Mr. Lewis, the second by Mr. Kerr, and the third by Mr. Jones. The vernacular examination was conducted by the Professors of Smrite and Nyaya of the Sanskrit College.

Mr. Lewis expressed himself as upon the whole pleased with the manner in which the pupils of the first class acquitted themselves. He observes, in reference to their reading and explanation of a passage selected from Thomson’s Seasons, ‘About twelve of the pupils passed a very creditable examination, the rest succeeded but indifferently; but the passage was one of considerable difficulty, and I am fully satisfied that more could not be expected of pupils belonging to the junior department.’

And, in reference to the examination in geography, the examiner says, ‘the result gave me great satisfaction, though I should have been better pleased had a greater number of the pupils succeeded in map drawing, which is an important branch of the subject, and one to which more attention might be devoted by the learner with profit.’

Anundoram Phookun and Gresh Chunder Mitter, of this class, were found to be far ahead of the others in all subjects. The former, who has been very attentive, and who has improved greatly during the past year, has since the examination been promoted to the fourth class of the senior department.

The pupils of the 2d class, consisting of three divisions, read and explained remarkably well, passages selected from their class reading books; they also answered questions in English grammar and geography in a satisfactory manner.

But in arithmetic the first division did not please the examiner so well. Six simple arithmetical questions were proposed, and only eleven boys out of twenty-nine who were present, worked more than three of them correctly. Sosheebhooshun Baneyen, Anundolall Banerjee, Gresh Chunder Bose, and Prosonno Coomar Ghose, in particular, were very deficient in arithmetic. They did not work correctly a single question. With the above exception the examiner speaks with approbation of the state of the second class, especially of the first and second divisions, taught by Baboo Iswer Chundro Saha, and Baboo Gopeekissin Mitter.

Page:General report on the public instruction in the lower provinces of the Bengal Presidency (1844-45).djvu/39 this proposition, and has recommended that a fee of 16 rupees per term levied on the pupils of this institution as well as all others who may attend those lectures, one-half to be paid to the lecturer, and the other half to be appropriated towards defraying the expences of fitting up and lighting the hall, keeping the apparatus in good order, and other incidental charges. The new hall on the western side of the senior department, the managers propose to appropriate to this purpose.

No lecturer on Political Economy has yet been appointed. In the mean time the subject continues to be taught, as formerly, by the Headmaster.

The general conduct of the students is reported to be remarkably good, and the discipline of both the senior and junior departments is well preserved. The conduct of the scholarship holders has in general been very satisfactory, and though they cannot be said to have behaved all equally well, none have on the ground of misconduct subjected themselves to the loss of their scholarships. The Principal remarks, that he has reason to be satisfied with the manner in which the Professors and the Headmasters have performed their duties during the past year, and that the Assistant Teachers also, and Pundits (with the exception of Ramnarayen, dismissed by order of the Committee for gross misconduct) appear to have given satisfaction to their immediate superiors.

Mr. Lewis, Headmaster of the senior department, has obtained leave of absence for 12 months on medical certificate. Mr. Halford, the 2d Master of the senior department, has been promoted to officiate as Headmaster during the absence of Mr. Lewis; and Mr. Brennand, who was employed for a few months as the officiating 2d Master on a former occasion, has been appointed to act for Mr. Halford. Mr. Giblin, the 3d Master in the senior department, resigned on the 19th February 1844, and his place has been filled up by promotion among the Teachers within the College; and the last place has been supplied by the appointment of Horo Sunker Doss, late Headmaster of the General Assembly’s School at Fort Gloster.

The buildings have lately undergone a thorough repair. The two new wings have been completed. The eastern one is appropriated as an additional school-room in the junior department, and the western one is reserved for a Lecture Room. Two covered passages between the old and new buildings, to connect them together, and also the Page:General report on the public instruction in the lower provinces of the Bengal Presidency (1844-45).djvu/41 Page:General report on the public instruction in the lower provinces of the Bengal Presidency (1844-45).djvu/42 Page:General report on the public instruction in the lower provinces of the Bengal Presidency (1844-45).djvu/43 Page:General report on the public instruction in the lower provinces of the Bengal Presidency (1844-45).djvu/44