Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-04-13
SCHOOLS IN sILEsIA.

| As we are preparing on the important subject
OF national schools, series of Essays, winch It is
oar intention shortly to lay before our readers,
VIC think it expcdient to shew first what has been
done in some other countries, very remote from
the spirit or form of republicanism, for the dit
fusion of knowledge and morality. We, there
fore, extract from John Quincy Adams's letters
on Silesia written during tour through that
country, in the year 1900, 1901, an interesting
| account of the state of education I'D part of the
Prussian Dominions.-EM.
Besides the university at Breslau, and the
Academy of Mobiles at Liegnitz, there are what
we ell Gramnar-Scbools, where Latin is taught
in almost every town of the province, and usu-
ally in connection with some church or convent.
But the arrangements and regulations of the tri-
vial schools, they are here called schools des-
tined for that elementary instruction which ought
| TO be diffused over the whole mass of the people,
particularly deserve your attention bee use YOU
may perhaps, as native of New England, enter
tam the prejudice, that your own country is the
only spot on earth where this object is rightly
managed, and where the arts of reading and writ
ing are accomplishments almost universally pos.
sessed.
Probably, no country in Europe could so
strongly contest our preenninence in this respect
as Germany; aud she, for this honorable distinct
on is indebted principally to Frederick II. to the
zeal with which he pursued he purpose Of spread
ing useful knowledge among ali classes of his
SUBJECTS; and 10 the influence of his example, and
OF his success, even beyond the limits Of his own
dominions. To enter upon this topic with the
details of which it is susceptible, might perhaps
not amuse you, and would lead me too far from
my subject shall, therefore, confne myself to
| the measures he adopted, and the system he in
troduced, in this particular, into Silesia.
At the time Of his conquest, education had
seldom been made the object of the concern of
/ arf1FrA atNfc ALL, aIr
rope, was but wretchedy provided with schools
or teachers. In the small towns and villages, the
schoolm sters were 30 poorl pai1, hat they could
not subsist without practising some Other trade
besides their occupation as instructors and they
usually united the character of the village fdler
with that OF the village schoolmaster. Even of
these, there were so few, that the children of the
peasants, IN general, throughout the province,
were lett untaught. This was especially the case
| III upper SIlesa. Frederick issued an ordinance
that school should be kept in every village. and
that competent subsistence should be provided
for the schoolmaster, by the joint contribution
| OF the lord of the village and the tenants them
selves The superintendent of the schools was
prescribed as the duty of the clergy
But, in order that this ordinance might have
It's due execution, It was necessary to form the
teachers themselves, properly qualified TO give
useful instruction. This was effected by the per
severng intelligence and zeal of a man. by the
| hsihS VI ISlolSSIs All augustine monk belonging
| to convent at Sagan; a man, says a Silesian
historian, whom great part Of Germany must
| thank tor revolution, not less important though
of slower progress and m der character than that
which two centuries and a half earlier, was ac-
comPiished BY another monk of the same order
by Luther.
'Felbiger, after spending some wears at Berlin.
to obtain perfect knowledge of the best me ,hod
of instruction practised IN the schools there re.
turned to Sagan, and made the conve nt TO which
he belonged seminary for young ecclesiastics,
and candidates as schoolmasters, TO acquire the
Knowledge of the improved mode of eachng-
Several other institutions ofthe same kind were
IN due time, es ablIshed at Breslau, Glatz, and o.
Their places, upon has principles, and conducted
by persons whom he had formed To def az the
expences necessary for the support of these Sc
mmarIeS, a fund raised, consisting of one quar-
ters salary which every Catholic curate IS oblIg-
ed to pay upon being frs set led in a parsonage
With each of these So mi IIres are connec, ed
certain schools, where young candidates for the
clerical or teaching Office are Obliged to attend,
| and observe the practCe of the method, the the
DRY OF which they learn at the seminaries them
selves. The clergy are required, no less than the
seachers, to go through this process because the
5 tuPerntendance over the teachers IS entrusted
to them. No young man can be admitted 10 e..
Their Of the Offices, without an attestation of his
qualifications from one of the sem .naries.
After all these preparatory measures had
been carried into effect, an ordinance was pub
lshed in the year 1795, prescribing the mode o.
teaching, as adopted in the semnaries, and thu
manner in which the clergy should superintend
the eifcacious establishment of the system The
regulations of this ordinance prove the earnest
ness with which the King of Prussia laboured {,
spread the benefits of useful knowledge anon,
his subjects. The teachers are directed 10 piv,
plain instruction, and upon objects applicable t.
the ordinary concerns OF life not merely to oac
the memory OF their scholars with words but Il
make things Ineligible TO their unders andInpr
to habltuale them TO the use of their own reason
by explaining every object of the lesson, so tina
the children themselves may be able to explai,
IT, upon eXamlnat ion. The candidates for school
| keeping must give specme IS of the ability. b.
teaching at one of the schools connected wit
the Seminary, III the presence of the professors a
the seminary, that they may remark and correc
any thing detective in the candidates. method
II one school suffices for more than one VILLAGE
| neither of them must be more than half n Ger
man mile distant from it, in the fat country; no
more than quarter Of a mile in the mountainou
g parts. The school tax must be paid by the lor,
aud tenants, without distinction of rel gions -
In the towns, the school must be kept the Who'll
year round. 1t expected that one month shall
suffice TO make child know the letters of tb
| alphabet; that ia two 1t shall be able To ion
> them and in three, to read The bows mus
all be sent to school, from their sixth 10 tbei
hfteehlh year, Whether the parents are able &
| pay the school tax or not. For the poor N,
school-money must be raised by collections. Eve
ry parent or guardian who neglects TO send hi
> child or pupil to school, without sufficient cause
is obliged TO pay double school tax, forwh.ch IN,
guardians shall have no allowance. Every Gu
rate must examine, weekly, the children Of th,
school in his parish. a general examination
must be held annually, by the deans Of the dis
tricts, Of the schools within their respective pre
cincts sand report Of the cOnd ton Of the cho
The talents and attention Of the schoolmasters
the state ofthe buildings, & OF Guidance by the