Chinese Learn National Language In Dunedin School

Northern Advocate, 18 November 1941, Page 2

Chinese Learn National Language In Dunedin School

While Chinese children in Dunedin receive a similar primary education to young New Zealanders, up to a year ago nothing was done to instruct them in their own language or the history and geography of China Chiefly through the enterprise and enthusiasm of a young Chinese, Mr Chee Young, a primary school for Chinese children w r as commenced in Dunedin 12 months ago. This school is held for an hour a day on six days of the week, and is attended by 14 Chinese boys and girls, whose ages vary from 6 to 15 years. < Anxious Tc Learn There are many interesting features about this quaint foreign school. The pupils attend various schools in the city, and prove themselves, ior the most part, keen and intelligent scholars. Then at 5.30 they gather in the rooms of the Chinese Association in Bond Street, and for an hour are taught to read and write in the Chinese language. While all the Chinese children in the city can speak Chinese, their only opportunity cf learning to read and write it is at their own school. Their teacher and his assistant. Mr Willie Wong, instruct them in reading and writing the picturesque Chinese language, with its quaint characters and designs. Although extremely different from their work in the city schools, the education of these children in their own language proceeds smoothly and efficiently, and the more advanced pupils are being instructed in the history and geography of China. Later, Chinese literature and art will find a place on the curriculum of the school. The children are anxious to learn, and are making satisfactory progress. The school’s chief difficulty is the small amount of time available for tuition. The teachers work during the daytime —Mr Chee Young is a commercial artist in a large city firm —and the only time available is between 5.30 and 6.30 each week-day and between 4 and 5 on Saturday afternoons. Both teachers and pupils would like to spend more time in the interesting instruction, for then it would be possible to include music and Chinese games in the weekly syllabus. The school is housed in two rooms, one of which is particularly well suited for the purpose. Flags of the Chinese Republic and a photograph cf Dr. Sun Yat-sen figure prominently in the mural decorations, which include a number of paintings by Mr Chee Young.

Chinese Library In an adjoining room is the Chinese Association’s library, which contains books, magazines, and newspapers printed in Chinese and published in China. Some of the magazines are similar to such illustrated publications as “Pix” and the “Picture Post.” and many are excellently printed. Members of the Chinese community spend a considerable time in the library avidly reading the magazines and newspapers. They are able to borrow books printed in Chinese, and the stock of volumes is always increasing. Both by means of the school and the library, the education is being furthered of Dunedin's Chinese in the language and culture of their own country. The war against Japan is. of course, predominant in the minds of all Chinese, and they follow with keen attention the news of battle in their national newspapers. Tire war might be a long one, they say. but no one has any doubt of the outcome, China will win.