Page 375 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (I)_Neat

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Education.

the government in combining the two schools was much
resented by the Shias whose attitude was that of the

dog in the manger, for about a year the attendance had
been very small and the school was 3/4 empty but at the

same time the Shias resented the school being used by
Sunnis as well as themselves. It is true that the
Shia community had contributed a small proportion of

the cost of the building but as the school was open
equally to Shias and Sunnis there was no logical argu­
ment against the Governmentrs action which effected a
large saving in expense. Unfortunately only about

40 Shias are attending the school and the remaining
100 boys are all Sunnis, A small private school has

been opened by a son of one of the leading Shias which
is attended by some of the boys who were previously
educated at the Government school.

Toni cal nlay. At the end of the last term, a plsy
was performed in Arabic before a large audience by boys
from the two schools. The play was written by the

President of the Islamieh college in Beyrout but it was
slightly adapted and made very topical, The play dealt

with a dishonestTWali’ who had charge of the property of
some minors and the villain of the piece, I believe
unintentionally, resembled unmistakably in manner and

appearance a certain leading Huharraq merchant who
recently appeated in Court on a charge of misappropriating
the money of certain minors with which he was entrusted.

The play was very well and intelligently acted and was
altogether a success.