{"id":878,"date":"2026-04-15T21:34:40","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T21:34:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/colby-and-china-ea333\/?post_type=exhibit&p=878"},"modified":"2026-04-23T19:19:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T19:19:07","slug":"principals-report-by-ellen-j-peterson-on-may-21st-1924","status":"publish","type":"exhibit","link":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/colby-and-china-ea333\/exhibits\/ellen-j-peterson-1907\/hangzhou-union-girls-school\/principals-report-by-ellen-j-peterson-on-may-21st-1924\/","title":{"rendered":"Principal’s Report by Ellen J. Peterson on May 21st, 1924"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Principal’s Report<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

May 21, 1924<\/strong> <\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The past year has shown progress in many lines. Last fall we introduced the new six-six system (six years of middle school and six years of primary) and it seems to be working well, although we have had some difficulty in securing the textbooks we needed to suit the new system, as many of the books advertised were not ready. We are following fairly closely the curriculum suggested by the E.C.C.E.A., with a few minor changes. We are beginning English one year later than before, in the second year higher primary instead of in the first year, thus still offering seven years of English. The Chinese teachers were not in favor of beginning English as late as the first year junior middle school, which was the time suggested by the E.C.C.E.A.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new organization has worked well. The teachers seem to feel that they have a vital part in the management of the school, they have been faithful in attending teachers’ meetings and have shown much more willingness to take part in discussions. The dean has shouldered a great many responsibilities and has taken many burdens off the principal. We certainly would not want to go back to old system of organization. The departmental meetings have also been very helpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although we were disappointed in not securing the kindergarten normal teacher and the English teacher whom we had expected to get, we were very fortunate in securing Miss Peterson for the English last summer and in finding Miss Mulkey for the kindergarten work in October. Both have done very good work. Our science teacher failed us after three days of teaching last fall, and during the fall term we had to get along with several part-time teachers for science and mathematics. This term we have had a full-time teacher, Mr. Wu, and he is giving good satisfaction. Mr. Gu, who had done good work in Chinese and social sciences, is leaving to enter the employ of the Commercial Press, but we have secured a woman college graduate to take his place for part of his teaching. One of our old graduates, Miss Chen Mei-yu<\/strong>, who graduated from Ginling four years ago, has promised to come to us next fall. We feel sure that she will be a very valuable addition to our staff. This is also the first year that we have had a returned student in our school. In the fall term Mrs. S. B. Chang, a Mount Holyoke graduate, gave us very valuable help in English, and when she was unable to continue to the second term we were so fortunate as to get Mrs. Mei-ing Lin, also a Mount Holyoke graduate, to take her place the second term. We are glad to report that Mrs. Liu has promised to stay with us another year. We are also fortunate in having Miss Mary Dzu, who has had two years in college, come back to us last fall. Most of the other teachers have been with us several years and have continued their faithful work. We want to express our appreciation of their service, though lack of space provents our naming them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are glad to welcome the two new members of the missionary staff, Miss Moffett and Miss McIlwaine, of the So. Presbyterian mission, who have recently moved over to the school. They will be ready next fall to take up their work as heads of the departments of English and Bible. We know they will improve the standards and methods of teaching in these two departments and that they will be of great help in improving the spiritual life of the school. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A cable has just come saying that Miss Harriet Davidson will accept the position of kindergarten normal teacher for next year, so that department will be taken care of temporarily. But we strongly urge that the So. Presbyterian Board send out a regular appointee this fall, if possible, so that she may be getting the language. It would not be satisfactory to run this or any other department very long with teachers who have no knowledge of the language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new dormitory was completed the early part of December and is being used this term<\/sup>. Besides nine bedrooms for students (four in a room) and two bedrooms for Chinese teachers, this building contains two classrooms, four studies for foreign teachers, four bedrooms for foreign teachers, washroom, bathrooms, and dining-rooms<\/sup>. The fourth story is floored but not plastered, so is used only for trunks and as a dryingroom in wet weather<\/sup>. When we get enough money to finish it, we can make several good sleeping rooms there, as there are plenty of windows<\/sup>. This building was planned in such a way that it can be added to and be doubled in size<\/sup>. It is well-equipped with Simmons beds and the necessary tables, chairs and desks<\/sup>. The seniors and six of the juniors occupy this dormitory and are delighted with it<\/sup>. The quarters for the foreign teachers are also filled<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new gymnasium has been in use for a year<\/sup>. The floor was not well-made at first, so we have just had it made over, and we are planning to have the formal opening on May 30, in the morning<\/sup>. The same afternoon we are having a field meet, if the weather permits<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One great cause for thanks giving is the fact that there has been a marked improvement in the spirit of the school this year, among students and teachers. All have shown a greater willingness to cooperate. We trust that this spirit will continue and grow. Our weekly prayermeetings with the women teachers have been helpful, and the Thursday morning prayer service of the missionary teachers has been a bond of union. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first week in December we had evangelistic meetings in the school, led by Miss Tippet, a C. I. M. missionary. She gave some very strong messages, and as a result twenty-eight girls [and] our matron made the decision to follow Christ as [their] Master. The matron and four students were received into the church before the end of the term. A [good] many others presented themselves for [church membership] but were not considered ready. I [believe] it wo[uld] be a good thing if the pastors of the [various] churches would follow the example of the C. M. [blank] and have some kind of confirmation classes to give those [who] desire to unite with the church some special [teach]ing on the doctrines of the church and what church membership means. According to our constitution the teachers in the school are not allowed to teach sectarian doctrines. This term we have so far been unable to get any evangelist to come and hold special meetings in the school, but we are now expecting Rev. Gordon Poteat to come for a series of meetings June 10-12. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year our Y. W. C. A. was having a hard time to maintain itself, so this fall we told the students that unless they wanted it, we would not have a Y. W. C. A., that it was a voluntary student organization. <\/sup>The majority of the senior middle school students voted to continue it and pledged their support, new officers were elected, and we have had good meetings. <\/sup>We have just had a campaign for new members, and the membership has been increased to one hundred and twenty. <\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During spring vacation the Presbyterian Synod met in our school, one of the dormitories being set apart for them. <\/sup>This summer the summer conference of the Y. W. C. A. will be held in our school. <\/sup>So the buildings are being used for others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a steady increase in enrollment from year to year<\/sup>. Last fall we had a total of 385 students as compared with 366 the preceding fall<\/sup>. This term the enrollment is 398 as compared with 376 a year ago<\/sup>. We cannot increase much more without dividing classes, as we average about thirty in a class<\/sup>. We cannot divide classes till we have more classroom space<\/sup>. The middle school had 183 pupils in the fall, and 175 this term<\/sup>. Fifty percent of the middle school students are church members, forty-two percent come from Christian homes<\/sup>. In the primary the percentage from Christian homes is only twenty-three<\/sup>. This shows what a big evangelistic opportunity we have<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The outstanding thing this year is the health work being done in the school<\/sup>. Last fall the Council of Health Education sent Dr. S. M. Woo to Hangchow to examine all the children in the Christian Schools<\/sup>. Local Chinese doctors cooperated with him and they examined twelve hundred students, including all in our school<\/sup>. It was found that we had about thirty-five percent of trachoma<\/sup>. In December the Council sent Dr. Iva M. Miller to us and she spent about four weeks treating all trachoma cases, as well as other diseases<\/sup>. The students were given drops to take home with them to use during vacation<\/sup>. Dr. Miller returned at the beginning of this term and is still continuing the good work<\/sup>. She brought a nurse with her and later a Chinese woman doctor, who are helping her<\/sup>. By the end of the term we hope to have all trachoma practically eradicated<\/sup>. A dental hygienist is cleaning the teeth of all our students and servants<\/sup>. We cannot sufficiently express our thanks to the Council, to Dr. Miller and to all her co-workers for the splendid service they are giving the school absolutely free<\/sup>. We trust that we can make some satisfactory arrangement to continue this good medical care next year<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In closing we would ask for the prayers of all who read this report, that all connected with the school, students and teachers, may work together for the spreading of gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the great land in which we live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Signed<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELLEN J. PETERSON<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Principal<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transcribed by Ran Liu<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Principal’s Report May 21, 1924 The past year has shown progress in many lines. Last fall we introduced the new six-six system (six years of middle school and six years of primary) and it seems to be working well, although we have had some difficulty in securing the textbooks we needed to suit the new […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"parent":625,"menu_order":2,"template":"","institution":[],"place":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/colby-and-china-ea333\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/exhibit\/878"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/colby-and-china-ea333\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/exhibit"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/colby-and-china-ea333\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/exhibit"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/colby-and-china-ea333\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/exhibit\/878\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":910,"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/colby-and-china-ea333\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/exhibit\/878\/revisions\/910"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/colby-and-china-ea333\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/exhibit\/625"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/colby-and-china-ea333\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=878"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"institution","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/colby-and-china-ea333\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/institution?post=878"},{"taxonomy":"place","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/colby-and-china-ea333\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/place?post=878"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}