The Placer herald., 1872-06-22
EDUCATION IN SWEDEN AND THE
UNITED STATES,

In the absence of other matter we present our
readers this week with synopsis of the educa.
tlonal system of Sweden The statistical facts
ana other information, it must be understood
are collected from the circular Of information is
sued by the Bureau of Education at Washington.
Tor the year 1871. Although the first impulse
gwen to popular education in Sweden, as is we'll
known, was fir derived from this country; yet
1T woald seem from glance at the official re-
ports the Swedes at the present time are, with
regard to primary instruction, in some respects
ahead of us. To arrive at knowledge of the
facts OF the case, with view of comparing the
one with the other, we design briefly to lay be-
fore our readers the prominent phases of differ
ence in the Swedish educational system CON-
pared with ours: The present school system of
Sweden was legislated by an act Of the Diet in
| 1872 By thislaw Folk school Common schoo)
| is required to be maintained in each sochen of
the kingdom both in town and untry. eight
months in the year. A sochen is territorial
| political division similar to our township bu,
generally of greater area. There are about two
thousand sochens in Sweden. The branches
taught in the folk schools are religion, reading,
writing, arithmetic, geometry, history, geogra-
ply, natural history, drawing, singing, military
exercises and gymnastics The prescribed course
Of study in the common schools of Sweden, it is
apparent, corresponds with first grade school Of
ours; the only difference being that drawing,
natural history and military exercises are re-
quired by law to be taught in the schools of the
former, while they are not at all included in the
elementary branches required to be taught in
those of the latter Besides this we have to
mention that in Sweden in the folk schools in
struction is given in horticulture and the plant
ing of trees, and that no less than 81 $50 pupils
received instruction there practically in those
very necessary branches of popular education, in
the year 1871. Not only in the gymnasia, or
higher school. but in the folk schools ia military
tactics, by the Diet, made obligatory; and the
vast importance this wise people attach to the
practical knowledge of military training may b,
gathered from the fact that in large towns the folk
school boys, equipped in light blue uniform, and
with imitation muskets. are taken out frequently
to practice the manual and platoon, and to DC
even drilled in battalion evolutions. In the folk
schools the instruction to q large extent is oral
with the use of the blackboard and chart and
the law expressly enjoins that the pupil is to
pursue no study without being previously ex-
planned to him by the teacher. The daily hours
of instruction. like ours, are not to exceed six
To each folk school in Stockholm a savings bank
is attached where pupils are encouraged to make
small deposits, thus early establishing habits Of
economy. When pupils arrive at tho age OF
fourteen they quit these schools to enter on the
iutleS OF the farm. or to pursue some Other
handicraft But, notwithstanding, if they de-
sire to extend their knowledge, the teacher is
required to afford them the needed instruction.
Textbooks are furnished at cheap rate, and
are not taxed as ours; thick and large octave
reader may be bought for twenty cents. Attend
ance at school is made compulsory, and is ell
forced by fine, or should that means prove inef-
fectual the separation of the children from the
parents follows, who are in such cases, put care
Of other persons. This, however, but rarely take,
place. Instruction is gratuitous, except where
parents are in easy circumstances, when the law
allows small charge. In large towns the sexes
have separate schools; in the country whore the
population is sparse, they are mixed. At the
close of each school year money and books are dis
ment is not allowed except in extreme
The percentage of all children in Sweden re-
ceiving instruction is 81; one not exceeded, we
believe, by any other country in the world. The
percentage of attendance of children attending
public and private schools in California being 80,
according to the statistical reports of 1871. Num-
Der of children tC one teacher in Sweden is 70; in
California 49, The cost of erecting school
b ousts falls on all without exception, the land
owners beng taxed in proportion to their prop
erty others, who do not own real estate, have to
contribute labor In the country, for the of
the teacher, a residence is attached to each
school house. and also a small piece of land foi
the benefit of the teacher and the pupils; this
last, we suppose is given to reduce TO practice
the science of horticulture. which receives SO
much appreGative attention in Sweden, and to
give practical lessons in botany to the pupils.
In 1867 the number of schools which possessed
piece of land Of this description for working was
2,015.
[ To be Continued
BRIEF NOTICES. Minnie Eicke, one Of
the successful candidates at the late County