Diocesan Boys' School

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Diocesan Boys' School
Badge of Diocesan Boys' School
Principal Mr. Terence Chang
School type DSS, Grant School, Boys' School
Religious affiliation Anglican (Episcopal)
Founded 1869
Location Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong
School colour(s) Red, white, and blue
School website http://www.dbs.edu.hk

Diocesan Boys' School (DBS, 拔萃男書院) is a boys only secondary school located at 131 Argyle Street, Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It was founded in 1869, making it one of the oldest secondary schools in Hong Kong. It is considered among the best schools in Hong Kong, also. The mission of the school is "to provide a liberal education based on Christian principles". Its students are encouraged to be all-rounders, excel not only in academics, but also in sports and the arts. As a result, the school regularly dominates various inter-school music and sports competitions regularly.

Recently in 2005, a primary division of Diocesan Boys' School is built next to the secondary school.

Formative years

DBS was born on March 15, 1860 when a patroness, Honorary Lady Robinson, sat together with eight others and decided to establish a girls' school. It is named as "Diocesan Native Female Training School". According to its constitution, it is aimed "to introduce the blessing of religious teaching among a somewhat superior class of native females", and to give European girls in Hong Kong a somewhat Victorian education. A total sum of $1420.24 of donations was collected and a subscription of $155.00 was established from the nine members.

Mrs. R. Eaton was elected as the first superintendent, with a salary of $69 per month. A Chinese teacher was employed, with a monthly payment of $10, considered as the best salary among the teachers in Hong Kong then. The Committee started the school on Bonham Road, with a small concrete house on a paddi field. It accommodated teaching, boarding and all the activities. Meanwhile, another lump-sum was collected to renovate this humble house "to look like a school".

At 6:00 p.m., 14 July 1863, a formal opening ceremony was held. At the same time, Mrs. Eaton enforced English usage in the school, to provide an English school environment.

School fees at that time was $10 per month, could be afforded by only the richest people in the colony . Thus, the total enrollment was less than twenty. The government also granted a $2 per month to subsidy the students whose fathers were soldiers with two children.

The school soon got into financial trouble and was on the verge of closing down. In 1867, Bishop Alford and Canon Beach took the management of the school. Under their management, the school first accepted boys. The school objective was subsequently revised, started to receive children of both sexes, be they European, Chinese or half-cast, and to educate them to be industrial and faithful to Christianity according to the Church of England. The school was the only English school at that time.

The baton of patronage was passed onto Governor MacDonnell, while Sir R.Walker, the founder of John D. Hutchison & Co Ltd., became the secretary of the Committee.

In July 1869, the school's name changed into 'Diocesan Home and Orphanage' (DHO). 23 boys and girls were enrolled, and taught by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur, a Chinese teacher and an elder who had studied in the Home. The school was then placed in the Grant-in Aid Scheme by the Education Department in 1877. In that year, students from the school obtained a result of 26 passes out of 30, which was high above the norm and therefore a cash prize of $169.80 was awarded to the school. In the same year, Mr. Arthur announced his retirement due to poor health. He was still residing in the D.H.O., when Mr. G. Piercy was appointed as the headmaster, under the condition that he should get married in six months. He succeeded to fulfill the condition in six days.

When Mrs. Piercy took up the post of Matron of the school, it was decided that no more girls were to be admitted. The girls were therefore put into a separate institution, the present Diocesan Girls' School.

Mr. G. Piercy focused on the academic education of the students. As a result, the school gained a good reputation in the Cambridge and Oxford Local Examination scholarships. In 1891, the school changed its name to 'Diocesan School and Orphanage' (DSO). The school committee agreed on the erection of a new wing of the school. The school then had one hall, two large classrooms, one covered playground, a large dormitory, a library and a sickroom (it was called a 'hospital' by the students).

The school first participated in out-of-school activities in 1894. It was registered as a participant of the Belilos Medals, a movement which later was called the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Apart from that, the school remained rather inert because Hong Kong was suffering from a plague of that time. The school's musical education can also be traced back to 1896, when a Drum Fife Band was founded.

History in early twentieth century

The beginning of the 20th Century marked a tremendous increase in Chinese students. In 1870, all students were foreigners, while in 1902, 85% were Chinese. Space became insufficient, and a new wing was therefore brought into consideration. However, Piercy suggested to build a larger school. To satisfy the demands, a kitchen was installed in 1900, and Mrs. Piercy was also finally freed from being the cook for the school.

Sports were popular at that time. Inter-school competitions were organized with Queen's College, St. Joseph's College, and St. Stephen's College in football, athletics, tennis, table tennis, hygiene, and rowing / yachting. In 1903, the school captured its first sports prize: the Championship of the Victoria Regatta.

Mr. H. Sykes came to DSO in 1911 and acted as the House Master. He was largely responsible for the excellent Oxford Local examination results obtained by the students in the early twentieth Century. It was also through his discussion with Mr. Piercy that a science laboratory was built. With the laboratory being built in the playing field, the students had to go to West Point Park for sports and during break. The 1903 Annual Report stated that DSO was the most successful school in the Hong Kong at that time. This was attested to by the outstanding achievements gained by the scholars in various diversified fields.

The name Diocesan Boys' School was first used by the School Committee in 1913 when no more girls studied in the school.

War broke out in China in 1938, and at once, DBS showed its support towards the Nationalist Party. This was also the year when Mr. G. A. Goodban came to DBS and acted as the headmaster. Goodban provided support in many different ways. He hoisted three flags on the Northern wing of the building; the Union Jack, the D.B.S. flag and the flag of Guomindang. These flags were also placed inside the Hall. Moreover, a Shoe-shining Club was organized to raise funds for the Guomindang. Boys went to schools around Hong Kong, polishing shoes for both teachers and students. They charged them $0.10 each time. As a result, $277.06 was raised. Anti-Japanese sentiment started in the following years. In 1939, it even led to a school strike when a Japanese student was appointed as Head Prefect.

The school was occupied by the Japanese in the year 1941. Most of the personnel (including Mr. Goodban and the staff) at school were jailed and made to dig an underground chamber to store the ammunition of the Japanese. The building itself was transformed into a military hospital (Kempi Tai to serve the Japanese soldiers). It was also rumoured that the school also served as an execution site for Hong Kong captives.

When the Japanese surrendered in August 1945, the school was still under the control of Kempi Tai. It was not until November that all the Japanese soldiers were captured. Rumours were heard every day about apparitions of the innocent dead.

Post-war history

On 21 March 1946, Mr. J.L. Youngsaye, together with 4 boys, took over the school which had been vacated, after it was inspected by the army commander. The next day, Bishop Hall asked Mr. Youngsaye to act as the Headmaster. He declined the offer, as he had taken up the offer of Mathematics teaching from DGS. Then, Mr. O. V. Cheung took up the post temporarily. Boy scouts were instructed to act as night guards as it was discovered that many looters came to the school to steal the ammunition left by the Japanese. Advertisements were published in South China Morning Post and Wah Kiu Yat Po for recruitment and 245 students were admitted.

The new academic year commenced on 11 September with Mr. Monks, the acting Headmaster, addressing the school in the same DBS tradition as before. However, everything was still in a mess until Mr. Goodban arrived from England on 19 November. He immediately started the restorations as he resumed his headmastership. Repairs started during the Christmas holidays. Also, benches were made in the Hall so that every student was given a seat during Assembly. Previously only the senior boys had seats. On 30 March, the remains of the Japanese corpses on the west side of the field were exhumed and removed by the Sanitary Department. In the same year, summer holidays were introduced.

The tuckshop was opened in 1948 while the chapel was moved from the central east wing on the first floor to the present Form 3 corridor. The new House system, named after the former Headmasters, was introduced in 1949 together with the Piercy Challenge Shield. The school yearbook "Steps" was also initiated in the same year.

In the 1950s, great construction plans including a gymnasium, a Carnegie Hall (the present Art Room) and a science wing were proposed.

In 1953, Mr. Goodban announced his resignation while Mr. George She was appointed as the next Headmaster, with Mr. Monks being the acting headmaster during the transition. In the academic rink, it was proposed to drop the primary classes because it was discovered that there was not enough space. Finally it was decided that a completely new Diocesan Preparatory School was to be built. Yet, it was not until 1969 that the resolution was affirmed.

The school became a major force in athletics when Mr. Lowcock was appointed as the Headmaster in 1961. With his previous experience in D.B.S., he structured the administration to improve efficiency and more teachers were being appointed to posts with designated responsibilities.

The year leading to the centenary year was a period of recuperation. Typhoon Wanda struck Hong Kong in 1963 and did considerate damage to the school. Later on, a drought followed. Moreover, all of the above took place while the two New Wings, the barbecue pits, the Swimming Pool were being constructed.

The School Centenary was officiated on 27 January 1969 and a celebration was held together with the introduction of a new blazer badge, which was intended to cut down costs. A Tea-Party was held in which old boys, parents and past staff members were invited to witness the release of one hundred pigeons and the illumination of a 5 x 40 feet neon sign saying 'DBS-100' on top the main building. In 1973, the April Strike took place throughout Hong Kong, including DBS.

In 1983, Mr. Lowcock resigned due to his poor health. Mr. J. Lai. succeeded him. Under his efforts, orators, scholars, athletes and musicians from the school achieved great improvement. Many trophies were brought back to the school as a result. Also under his leadership, a language laboratory and a demonstration room were built. The rewiring of the school is done, and gas pipes were installed. The setup of intercom system and new fire alarm system, the repainting of the school walls, the computerization of the school were performed throughout the school.

Mr. J. Lai retired in August 2000. Mr. Terence Chang, an old boy, gave up his headmastership at another school, the Jockey Club Ti-I College, to take over the reins at the start of the new term in September.

In September 2004, Diocesan Boys' School started the Primary Division, which is known as the Diocesan Boys' School Primary Division (DBSPD).

Houses

DBS currently has seven houses, named after seven of the past headmasters:

School hymn

Father in heav'n who lovest all.

O help thy children when they call;

That they may build from age to age

An undefiled heritage.


Teach us to bear the yoke in youth,

With steadfastness and careful truth;

That in our time thy grace may give

The truth whereby the nations live.


Teach us to look in all our ends

On thee for judge, and not our friends;

That we, with thee, may walk uncowed

By fear or favour of the crowd.


Teach us the strength that cannot seek,

By deed or thought, to hurt the weak;

That, under thee, we may possess

Man's strength to comfort man's distress.


Teach us delight in simple things.

And mirth that has no bitter springs;

Forgiveness free of evil done

And love to all men 'neath the sun.

Notable alumni

Dr. Sun Yat-sen
  • Dr. Sun Yat-sen (孫中山); Chinese revolutionary and statesman, founder of modern China (Note: Dr Sun studied for only one year at DBS and was expelled from school due to a prolonged absence involving the death of his mother. Upon his return to Hong Kong he finished his secondary education at Central School, the forerunner to today's Queen's College.)
  • The late Sir Oswald Victor Cheung (張奧偉); distinguished lawyer, legislator, and public servant of Hong Kong, widely known as "doyen of the bar"
  • Terence Chang; current headmaster of DBS.
  • Prof. Cheng Yiu-chung (鄭耀宗); Vice Chancellor of University of Hong Kong 1996-2000
  • Rafter "Zac" Wu (胡昉曉); Current Grey Bear of Athletic Association of Hong Kong 210.0.201.161(This is a gag. Don't take this too seriously.)

Trivia

See also

External links

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