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282 GENERAL AND RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONnot working, iii their leisure hours help the students whohave to work, even to picking pig-bristles, which one wouldnot think of as being very genteel in the eyes of the Chinese.Janitor work is the least satisfactory kind of labour in theself-help department. Foreigners criticisms that Chinesepupils despise labour is based too largely on this slenderindustrial basis. Perhaps this work seems more menialthan other forms of labour. Naturally where a boy islearning something, the work has a recreational andstimulative character which no broom, duster or mop hasever succeeded in providing.ri. Do the pupils take up this icorh gladl;/ and eagerly?* s a 1 eveiatioii to see howStudentsAttitude gladly the pupils take to work when itexcites their interest.VII. Are the pupils engaged in the self-help department ableto complete their course in the same length of time as those notdoing such work %Effect on Although in many places the pupils workOther Work from three to four hours a day, it appearsthat nearly always this work does notinterfere with a boy in his class standing and does notdelay his graduation. If four hours a day are spent inwork, graduation may be slightly delayed. The idle,unproductive hours of the day are utilized. Furthermorewhen a boy who has not done very well at his books, sees thework of his hands progressing, it reacts on him as a student,and he will do better work.How many hours per week do they work?LPupils work from a few hours a week to four hours perday.2. Do they work during the summer and winter vacations ?Iii some places the pupils work during the vacations.This relieves poor parents of the expense of providing foodfor their children during about one quarter of the year; andit also gives the pupils something to do during ourprolonged vacations.