Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 09.djvu/455

* GYMNASIA. 4(J5 GYMNASIA. diately made its^elf fell. The school which gave the necessary languages, J^atin. French, English, was the Realgymnasiiini. But there were in Prussia (in ISDS) 277 Gymnasia and only G7 Realgj'ranasia. and hence such a shifting of client- age would have been injurious to both .schools, iloreover. the character and amount of the in- struction in Latin in the Kealgymiiasia is infe- rior to that of the Gymnasia. Hence some modification of the gymnasial curriculum was necessary. Then followed the introduction of English and the placing of Greek on an elective basis. The great dift'erence existing between the Gymnasia and the Realg^-mnasia is still that of the respective emphasis on the classics. A much greater time is given to the study of Latin in the Gymnasia and to science in the Realgymnasia. Both French and mathematics receive greater attention in the Realgymnasia. In the Gymnasia French begins in the third year (Quarta) with four houis a week; later, three: then only two. Little time can be spared for practice in speak- ing; grammar and reading form the chief parts of the instruction. The reading embraces the classical and the most important of other poets and prose writers. German is given four to three hours with the following course: Li the lower classes, mythologA'. grammar, and ex- planation of poetical works ; in the middle classes, rhetoric, poetics, and the reading of easy plays and larger poems ; in the Prima, the history of German literature, reading of the Xibelungenlieil and W'alther von der Vogelweide, with the most important works of the classical period, especially Lessing, Schiller, and Goethe, and some introduction of Shakespeare. Hebrew and English are elective and are given two hours a week. The recent change has given much more time to English. Mathematics has four hours throughout, except in Tertia. where it has only three, and includes geometry, mensuration, plane and spherical trigonometry, stereometry, and the elements of analytical geometry; in arithmetic, the fundamental operations, equations of the first and second degree, arithmetical and geo- metrical computations, compound interest and stocks, combinations, the theory of probability, and the binomial theorem. The natural sciences have throughout two hours, and embrace descrip- tive natural history, zoology and anthropology, botany and mineralogy, physics, mathematical geography, and an introduction to astronomy and clieniistry. History receives two hours in the lower middle classes, and three in the upper. The matter is so divided that the whole passes twice before the pupil ; in the Quarta, ancient history; in the Tertia. mediawal and modern: in the Secunda, the history of (ireece and Rome for the second time; and in the Prima, general his- tory, from the migrations of the nations to the present time, with special reference to German history. Geography has two hours in each of the lower classes, one in the Tertia. with a re- view of the subject in the upper classes in con- nection with history. The Sexta has two hours of penmanship. Religion (separately, according to creed) has four hours. Gymnastics, singing, and drawing have each two hours : the last branch is not pursued in the four upper classes. The number of hours of teaching averages .30 to 34 per week. The instruction is given from 8 to 12 A.M. (intermission at 10 o'clock), and fioni 2 to 4 or 5 p.u. : the afternoons of U'ednes- day and Saturday are free. For home prepara- tion one to two hours are required from the lower classes, two to tiiree hours from the upper. Va- cations occur at Cliristmas, Easter, sometimes at Whitsuntide, and the longest in the autumn, altogether eleven weeks. At the end of the school year (generally at Easter) formal public closing exercises arc held, with the announce- n'ent of promotions and distribution of prizes to the best scholars. A pupil who has in no report the note 'unsatisfactory' is transferred to the ne.xt higher class. If two branches are unsatis- factory he is required to pass through the same class again, in Prussia even with one 'unsatis- factory.' In Southern Germany in such a case a reexamination in the study after vacation deter- mines his remaining or advancement. As the Gymnasia are only very seldom board- ing schools (Iniernata), the maintenance of dis- cipline outside of school is accomplished by cer- tain regulations, which, however, allow scholars of the Prima somewhat greater freedom. The punishment for transgressions is arrest, impris- onment, or the consilium abcundi, which is fol- lowed at the next otTense by expulsion. Each class is in general limited to forty students, and when that number is exceeded parallel divisions are formed. Since many Gynmasia have 700-SOO pupils, all their classes contain two, sometimes even three, divisions. Each class is under the sjjecial supervision of a class teacher or 'ordi- narius,' who teaches the chief branches in that class. At the head of the Gymnasium is a 'director.' The directors are themselves respon- sible to an 'Oberschulrat' or 'Oberstudienrat' (Board of Education), in Prussia the 'Provin- zialschulkollegium,' and the latter to the Min- istry of Religion and Instruction. Conferences of the directors and higher school officials act on questions of instruction, and determine changes in method, conditional upon the Imperial sanction. The higher schools are primarily State institu- tions; some are also uuinicipal. The State super- vises the schools by inspections, appoints and pays the teachers, wlio bear in the south the title of 'professor,' in the north that of 'Oberlehrer'; but specially deserving teachers in Prussia also receive the title of professor. Younger teachers, from their State examinations to their definite appointment, bear the title of 'Lehramtsprakti- kant' or 'Probecandidat' (probationary instruct- or). Teachers without academic education are employed only for arithmetic, natural history, penmanship, and the special branches, drawing and gymnastics. The instruction is not free; the State receives a tuition fee of 60-120 marks, ac- cording to the class. At the completion of the gymnasial course the examination for graduation (.rbiturienten- or Maturitiitspriifung) is held under the direction of a State commissioner and is judged very severely. The successful candi- dates receive the certificate of fitness for the uniersity. The privilege of granting this cer- tificate belonged formerly to the Gymnasium alone, but graduates of the RealgAMimasium may now enter law, medicine, and all studies of the philosophical faculty, save classical languages. The certificates of the Oherrcalschule admit to university study of mathematics and natural sciences. The other higher schools fit for the great technical schools. A priviU>ge qu'te as highly prized as that of fitness for the universitj".