Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-11-10
PruSSian School System.

We extract the following article from DR..
Corson's Loiterings in Europe, a book which
we have already commended TO our readers,
and which we are pleased to see is highly
approved by the press generally.
Since the time of Frederick the Great, the
government, though strictly monarchical and
arbitrary in principle, has been paternal and
kind in practice. But the careful system OF
national instruction, begun by that wise
prince, encouraged by his successors, and
essentially matured nearly thirty years since,
naturally prepared the people for a large share
of political liberty.
As the Prussian system of education is
perhaps the most perfect in the world, and as
it has latterly excited an interest in our own
country, perhaps a slight sketch of it may
not be amiss.
One Of the most important MEMBERS of the
kings cabinet is the minister of public in
struction. To this functionary, assisted by
twelve councillors eminent for their learning,
is entrusted the supervision of all the educa-
tiOnsl interests of the kingdom.
Each of the ten Provinces of Prussia, again,
has a secondary organization on a smaller
scale, and acting under the first, consisting
of a head president (Oberprasident,) and a
school-board.
III hiOS CNCI1 plONluCS 10 a uHlNtIdlS
which communicates with the minister OF
public instruction through a royal commissa-
ry. Every province again, is divided into
regencies, circles, and parishes; and CORES
pondlng with these, and descending in the
scale, are various inspectors, councillors and
others, down to the parish Sohulvorstand, or
school committee, mostly elective, who watch
over and regulate the details of each indivld-
uaI school. Both the Protestant and Catho-
lie clergy, according to the character OF the
school, by virtue Of their Offices, are made 10
take an important share in its direction.
There are three principal classes of schools.
The first or primary school gives instruction
in those elementary branches which, by the
laws of Prussia, are deemed necessary to the
poorest citizen, embracing religious instruc-
tion, writing, arithmetic. elementary geome-
try and physics, geography, German gram
mar, history, agriculture, gymnastics, and
singing.
The second class are the citizen-schools,
as they are termed. a higher grade for the
children of the inhabitants of small towns
and villages, who may wish for a better edu-
cation than is given in the primary schools,
and add to the branches taught in these, La
tin, and one or more modern languages, math'
emathics, natural history, and a higher style
Of singing.
The gymnasia form The third class. These
are in fact minor colleges or seminaries, scat
tered over the country, in which very respec
table classical and mathematical courses arr
t given, preparatory TO entering the UNIVERSE
ties or the learned professions.
No private schools can exist without II
cense and inspection by the local school au
lhorilies.
The whole educational interests Of tn,
country are thus merged into one admirable
and harmonious system.
To insure a constant supply Of superio
teachers, their salaries have been grade allJ
) raised, so as to make their situation quite de
sirable; and excellent normal schools fo
their special training have been established
in every district.
The course Of instruction, preparatory Il
teaching, is very thorough, and usually lasts
3 three years; the previous examination Of tn,
candidate as to morals, health, musical at
tainments, and the like, is quite strict; a mo
! del school is usually placed under their carr
3 for practice; they must become good per
S formers on the organ. piano, and violin; a