The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-04-27
COMMON SCHOOLS.

sWhat iszusuaA y@knoWn, or weshould say
spokensof as the l'russian system OF common
schools, is more correctly denominated Ger
| man for it is the outgrowth Of German clvlll-
zation: AS most: Of our people have heard
much Of German schools, and have Il general
idea of their superiority ever others, without
having any definite knowledge on the subject
we have thought it;may not be Improbable to
give some Of their more characteristic fcatuEes
especially at this time, when our own schools
of every grade, by reason Of the long inter
ruption by the war; shave been brought back to
the formative stage. and are awaiting a plastic
,naster-hand to: jgive:them being, character and
individuality. Mr. j.. Ross BnowNE's book,
can American Family in Germany" recently
published, will assist our memoryHin the exc
cution of this task. T., II
| The schools in G ermany are conducted with
great: care, and under STIR ct municipal regula-
tions. The teachers are geneeally persons Of
superior ability and thorough education.> This
will be readily. credited, when we consider that
owing to the excess Of population, it is gener-
ally as difficult there for teacher to gain
| position Of honor and emolument in his profess
sion, as it is here for lawyer to gain fame or
fortune at the bar, Teaching is not "taken up"
| by any aad every one; it is a profession, the
avenues to which are Us carefully guarded by
Government as those TO the army or the civil
| service. ss-s,
A great feature in these schools is the amount
| of oral exercises through which the children
are required to pass No mere learning, by
rote is permitted. Every branch smustssbe
thorou ghl,yy understood: and however little a
pupil may acquire he must comprehend it as
far as he goes. Superficial show is altogether
| disregarded. Until boy is duly qualified in
primary class he cannot enter u higher one
Great attention is bestowed upon those studies
| most likely to be of use to the pupil in future
ife5 as,, for, example, the modern languages,
mathematics, civil engineering, geography,
| drawing, bookkeeping, natural philosophy,
geology, etc. Due regard is also paid to the
health of the pupil. He is required to exercise
at frequent intervals, to bathe, sing walk,
ard hold himself in on erect position. The
school, hours in summer are from A. M
| until 6 p. NJ; with on intermission of two
hours for dinner in winter from s to ..
| This, however, varies in different parts OF the
country. All the studying is done in school,
In this way there is but little; opportunity for
street lounging and rowdyisn. At school all
are considered boys, big and little, and all are
30 treated. Precocious young, gentlemen Of
sixssen are regafsded with special disfayer
Neatness and cleanliness in dress and person
are imperatively required.
The relations betwee en- teuchers and their pu-
pils are. Of; most kindly! and affectionate
character. The same interchange Of friendly
souvenirs which so frequently take: place in
families, is also o prevailing custom IN this
connection. Birthday and Christmas presents
are made lG the teachers, and on those ooea-
| sions the 5aioles school uuites in doing them
honor. . Affectionate addresses are delivered
| on both sides, and there is always q very hap
py scene Of rejoicing. Every child brings
something, of course according to his means
Many bring flowers ornamental plants,
| purses, watch-guards, etc., etc. So on New
Year and on his birthday, the teacher receives
congratulatory epistles from nearly all his pu-
nils: and O. vein of refined sentiment peryades
the everyday life of these poor, humble, and
obscure villagers, which our more practical
but very unpoetic countrymen find it difficult
| to credit
During the summer holidays, pedestrian
tours are made through various parts OF the
| country, having in view health, recreation, and
| instruction Sometimes these tours extend to
the mountains Of Switzerland and Bavaria.
The classes are accompanied by their teachers,
who omit no opportunity Of instilling into their
| minds a practical knowledge of geology, bota-
ny, entomology, and such other studies as
| come within the sphere of their rambles. Each
boy carries with him q tin case, in which to
preserve the specimens picked up by the way
side AS they wander along through the beau
tiflll and picturesque parts of the country, they
sing glees and choruses, make sketches Of the
old castles, or bathe in the mountain streams.
They are the happiest set ofbeingsin existence
Knowing no troubles, oyerhowing with health'
and in the full enjoyment of liberty, they pre-
sent picture of pure and perfect happiness,
if such thing can exist upon earth.
Will any one pretend to say that such life
as this, innocent and refining in all its ten
dencies, is not infinitely better than the holiday
life Of our American children? Here there IS
| no dissipation, no encouragement to evil or
profiigate habits, no morbid and unwholesome
excitements A love of nature in its most at
tractive aspects is encouraged. Not stick, or
stone, or flower, on the way-side, but has Its
| meaning. The beautiful legends of the coun-
| try are the subjects of song and story. Health
| earned by exercise brings with it an increased
capacity for study. The mind and body are
| refreshed, and when the holidays are over, the
teachers and pupils return to their duties with
clear heads and strong nerves In this way
the Germans acquire those robust constitutions
which are the admiration of the world; anu
among our Teutonc citizens we find the best
civil engineers, raughtsmen, chemists, hotan-
lists, and geologists to devclope the resources
of our country.
| E0D CAFE