The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-11-18
EDUCATION IN SWITZERLAND.
The Swiss System-What n studied
A Country UAexeelled ON she

The Swiss System-What n studied
A Country UAexcelled ON she
Globe.
Rg II @. NOrthroP in the Boston coagregasca-
alMk
A visit to over a hundred schools in the diff
| ferent CantOns has greatly enhanced my apt
Teciation Of the Swiss system Of public
Instruction. The Swiss are a progressive
| people, and their excellent educational system
b both the evidence and cause of general
advancement 1t contains some features
worthy Of imitation in America. The schools
are supported by the State, free to all, well
attended and highly priced by the people.
In the studies Of Geography and Arith-
metie their methods are inferior to
gurs. But In Language exercises, His
tor! and DRIVING they gssstly; excel TIE Tie
| first aim. The culture of the expressive fac
ulties is made very prominent. They justly
regard language as not only the medium of
| thought, but the chief agency In cultivating
the memory and taste. The disciplinary in
huence of language study is kept in view. To
| talk well is held to be a noble art. The daily
school duties aim at this great attainment.
Choice selections of poetry and prose are
| committed and recited almost daily. Start
ing early, the memory is trained to commit
with surprising facility | have been greatly
pleased by the recitations of poetry by young
| pupils-lOng passages being given without
hesitation or mistake
The fact that there are three races in Swift
zerland German, French and Italian, and
| that these three languages are spoken in the
| Federal Assembly ; well as in commercial
| Intercourse, gives practical interest to the
study Of the modern languages. Besides
ones vernacular, the study Of French or Ger
man Is required in the schools, and is begun
| a tender "A trp The farnltV Of lantrnatr.as il
early developed Under ten or twelve years,
| is the memorial age for words and their
forms. Beginning at the right age, the Swiss
youth make more rapid and thorough pro
gress in modern languages. The Classics are
also commenced early, and great proficiency
is the result. In the study of any new Ian
guage, the pen is ever in hand, and there is
| constant practice in expressing thought in
| that language Ones proficiency is measured
by his ability to convey his ideas in the new
tongue. | commend this practice TO our
| teachers.
History, too much neglected in America, is
| here made a most attractive and prOni-
inent study This land is classic Yes
tiges of Roman rule and works abound and
memorials of battles and siegcs in later times,
stimulate inquiry. The school building itself
is often historic. have inspected the college
and academy founded by Calvin more than
800 years ago, sat i'm the pulpit chair occupied
very rooms where he taught, and with which
are associated the names of John Knox
Necker, Sismonde, Albert Gallatin, and n host
Of eminent men Of Europe, for Geneva
was the educational center where Pro-
testant young men from England,
France, and Germany, were educated for
nearly two centuries after the Reformation.
Though with one exception the smallest
Canton in Switzerland, no place OF its size in
moderate times has exerted so widespread
aud happ1- an jnfnoRea bah iatoaectnse I'D
religious. Among the ruling minds OF the
present day, Count Bismarck is named as one
who was educated in part here. Such mem
ories awaken an historic spirit in the schools.
Still more their monuments, walls, towers,
ruins and relics, their fountains adorned with
historic embiems. their heroes and benefac-
tors enshrinef in storied marble, their hard
won victories recorded in bronze, their arch@
illogical museum ana library, with the man
uscripts of Luther, Calvin, Beza, Melanethon
and Others, foster an interest in the past
The Swiss schools also excel in drawing
They understand both its practical bearing
and relation to general culture. Their skilled
mechanics apply the art in drafting plans
forming decorative designs, and executing all
nice work. They say that not the architect,
builder machinist and inventor only must
draw" but that any craftsman, skilled in
design, makes a better workman whatever
may be his trade The world now pays sub
RtanIl1l Tribute 10 SWlIZeTianO IOr the
quisite taste disp.ayed in the decorative arts,
in their unequaIed wood carvings, their beau
tiful designs and chasings in gold and silver
their watches and music boxes, their silks
and ribbons and the patents for embroidery
and for their Extensive printing and dyeing
manufactures In the industrial schools,
special instruction is given in ornamental
drawing, molding and designing In the girls
schools, needle work is taught to all.
The Swiss believe in the dignity of labor, in
the system of apprenticeship, and the thor
ough mastery of some trade The theory
that labor is menial, and that the tools of
trade are badges of servility is foreign TO
them. They are ingenious and industrious.
They have learned that ignorance means
waste and weakness, that education is econo-
my, that brains help the hands in all work,
multiplying both the value and productive
power of mere muscle. In this diectiOn the
Polytechnic Institute at Zurich is doing
noble work. 1t is already deservedy
the pride of the nation, is literally sup
ported by the government, and has a very
large and able corps Of professors and
900 students. It's celebrity has attract
ed many students from other lands. Eng
Land has nothing equal to it. Indig-
nant that his own country should so neglect
both popular and technical education, j. Scott
Russell says, THE contrast between England
and Switzerland is this England spends
more than five times as much on pauperism
and crime as she does on education, and
Switzerland spends seven times as much on
education as she does on pauperism and
crime"
The recent progress Of Switzerland in internal
improvements, manufactures and wealth Is
great. While other causes have helped, the
most efficient agency is the marked improve
ment in popular and technical education.
Railways thread her valleys and climb hills
and even mountains, where the construction
II costly and difficult. The telegraphic lines
are relatively more numerous than America,
and being a part Of the postal system,
the rates are low and uniform. The pub
he roads are the best in Europe, and yet with
out toll Even the most costly suspension
bridges are free. The Swiss government Is
the most liberal one In Europe. It is Of the
people and for the people. It happily Illus
trates the national motto, lsH pour tout, tout
pour Wn Zone for all, all for one) Such q
government can afford to trust the people.
Hence there is free press, free speech, free
schools, freedom In religion, and freedom In
travelling, no passports being required, and
no examination of luggage no standing
army and no gems Tarmes ever brandishing
the threatening hand of power as elsewhere
IN Europe There is relatively far less cnmi-
nality here than in England. The fact just
afafad in tho Swiss Times that in the village