Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 14.djvu/309

* NATIONAL EDtrCATION. 267 NATIONAL EDUCATION. schiilc. This takes cliildnii lictwi'cn the ages of six and fuurlccii, and diuinf,' this period attend- ance is ooniimlsDi y tor all wliuse edneation is not otiierwise jjiovided. In the larger coninuini- tios the sexes are taught separately, but in the iiiuntry districts this is usually impossible, on aecount of the lack of teachers and facilities. The school work occupies six hours a day and about forty-two weeks a year. There are three grades and six classes, though the work occupies ciglil years. The subjects of study are, in the lowest grade, religion, (iernum, arithmetic, sing- ing, gynuiastics, and needle-work; in the middle grade, drawing, science, history, and geograjihj' are added; and in the upper grade, geometry. Tliis course is prescribed by law, but within its limits selection and arrangement are left to the school board of the district, subject to the ap- proval of the general board of the royal Gnvern- inent. (3) The continuation schools. These are usually evening schools, giving instruction to pupils between the ages of fourteen and eighteen. They review the work of the Volksschule, and give some additional work with sjxjcial reference to trade or industry, or, in the country districts, agriculture. Tuition is charged, but provision is made for those who cannot pay. With the continuation schools may be classed various in- dustrial and trade schools which are day schools, and devote more time and eilort to prepare for s]iccitic vocations. (4) Middle schools. These s|jrang from the old bvirghcr schools of the Mid- dle Ages. They aim to jnejiare the children of people with more means for a commercial life, although sometimes they are attended by pupils pre]iaring for the secondary schools. Tuition is charged. Nearly twice as many of these schools as are public are private. A considerable pro- portion of them are mixed schools. They take the place of the Volksschule, but sometimes continue instruction imtil the seventeenth year. (5) Nor- vtal schools. In these there is a preparatory course of three years to which children of four- teen are admitted. This is followed by a two years' course in the women's normals, and a three years' course in men's normals and the one for governesses. In 1000 there were 120 of these insti- tutions, of which all but about twelve were for men exclusivelj Students are admitted on examina- tion and tTie attendance is limited to from thirty to thirt.v-six in each class. While in the school students receive their support. On graduation, they are placed on the list of available teachers, and required to take what is given them, or pay back the expenses of their education. Before re- ceiing permanent appointment, however, a pro- bation of from two to five years is required, and an additional examination on educational matters must be passed. The normal school course con- sists of pedagogies, religion, German, history,' arithmetic, geometry, geography, drawing, writ- ing, music, and a foreign language. The secondary schools in Prussia, as in Ger- nniny generally, are the various classes of gym- nasia and Realschulen. The gymnasia are the classical schools, and have their origin far back in the Jliddle Ages. They were modernized dur- ing the nineteenth century l)y the introduction of science and modern languages, although they have always retained the humanistic quality as against the Realschulen, which emphasize the sci- entific studies and modern languages, and omit the classical languages altogether. The gymnasium Vol. .IV.— is. has a nine years' course. To enter it the pupil must be nine years of age, and have had three years of elementary instruction. The pro-gj'm- nasia give a somewhat shorter cour.se, usually only the six years necessary to gain for their graduates exemption from one year of the volun- tary service in the army. Occupying a position between the gj'mnasium and the Uealschule is the Kealgymnasium, which omits Greek and gives more attention to sciences, etc. There are also real pro-gymnasia. The Realschule proper gives only a si.x years' course, but the higher Keal- schulen have nine years of work. As a result of a conference on secondary schools that met at Berlin in 1900, the three classes of schools having a nine years' course are declared to be equal from the point of view of general culture, and (ireek was made optional in the gymnasia. Tho jiro- gramnie of studies was somewhat revised, and greater latitude allowed the masters in adapting their work to particular needs. For the profes- sional training of secondary teachers there are twelve State seminaries, which aiimit only a few candidates. There are also connected with many of the gymnasia seminaries conducted by the prin- cipals and leading teachers. These institutions all give a one ye.ar's course. There are also a number of higher schools giving instruction to girls from six to fifteen years of age. They are supple- mented by gymnasia having a four j'ears' course. These institutions, however, are not recognized as preparing for the universities, and the higher schools are controlled by the department for pri- mary education. The higher education of Prussia is given in the universities, with their four faculties of phi- losophy, theology, law. and medicine. They are discussed in the article on University. There are also various polytechnic and agricultural schools that may be included with the schools for higher education. At the head of the Prussian school system is the llinistcr for Religious. EducMtional, and Jledicinal Afl'airs. As Minister of Education alone, his department is subdivided into two parts. The first has control of su])erior and sec- ondary instruction, and the second of the ele- mentary schools. The Minister of Education represents the schools in the Prussian Parliament, and plans and oversees legislation on school mat- ters, including finance. He distrilnites the State school money, appoints the members of provincial school boards, confers titles on school ofiicers, judges on ajipeal all cases involving dismissal from office or other contentions in school mat- ters, besides fixing the normal course of study. Each of the thirteen provinces of Prussia con- stitutes a division for school administration. The immediate superintendence of secondary schools is in ch.nrge of the provincial school boards, consisting of from three to five members and a chairman, who is the president of the province. One of these men inspects the g>'ra- nasia. another the Realscliulen. and a third the Volksschulen. This board has the power of ap- pointing and dismissing teachers in secon<lary schools, except in such as are supported wholly or partlv by private funds, where the selection is made by a local board from n list furnished by the provincial school board. The appointment of directors of the schools requires the confirma- tion of the Minister. To the provincial scliool boards also fall the control of the seminaries