The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-12-14
EDUCATION IN AUSTRIA.

Below will be found some details as
to the state Of educatic II in Austria, fur
nished by DR.. Dittes in speech which
he delivered in the Reichsrath in Deem
Der last; his position as Il member Of the
Austrian Parliament, president Of the
Pedagoglum OF Vienna, and author of
several distinguished works upon peda
gogy, give much importance to his states
ments.
The whole SUM devoted by The gov
eminent to educational purposes exceeds
100000 florins, but not quarter OF q
million is employed Tor the peoples
schools in the country, whrre, however,
nine,tenths of the population must de-
rive their instruction. The schools of
Vienna, aud those of Upper and Lower
Austria and Syria are in a satisfactory
condition, but the same cannot be said.
unfortunately, OF other parts of the en-
pire. Thus, in BukOvine there are in
all 167 couAtry schools, while the law
requires more than 400 additional ones.
And even these leave much to DE desired
they are but little and very irregularly
attended, the number Of scholars not
reaching 90 per cent. Of the number of
an age to 60 to school, thus leaving so
per cent. without instruction. But IN
what sort Of places are the schools held
in Bukovine? In many parts, IN the
most miserable huts that can be found;
in many others there is no special place
assigned, and they make use oil tie dead
chamber in the cemeteries In many
parts the rooms are unhealthy and lack
everything requisite for school room:
the door does not shut, the glass is broke
and replaced by sheets of paper, there
is not a trace Of school material, no
blackboard, not even desks for the
scholars, or chair for the teacher, and
yet they call it a school house!
In Gallicla, except in the large towns.
all is pretty much in the same condition
there are not 30 per cent. OF children of
suitable age who attend the schools. In
the Tyrol. Corintma, Carniole, Istria, and
Dalmatia, things are better bur still far
from satisfactory; in Bohemia, Molavia,
and Sllcsia, the schools are better still,
but there IS yet great evil arising from
the ditticlty Of finding suitable teach ers,
ana III consequence they are obliged
often to employ mcb who are not at all
fitted for the post. This evil is by no
means confined to one locality; since at
least 5000 teachers more are needed IN
Austria. They are making grea. sacri-
fees to renee the evil by establishing
normal schools. and the pupils there are
numerous; but unfortunately all these
normal scholars do not become teachers
and thus the evil is SLOW in being rene
died. And how can we expect young
men to become teachers" exclaimed DR..
Dlttes, "as long as a teacher is worse
paid than the lowest day labor 2" some Of
them not receiving more than hundred
HORNS year, and suffering undec the
despotic sway of school commissioners
composed of peasants, liquor dealers,
Jews, servants of the nobility, many of
whom can neither read nor write, and
have neither the desire nor the power to
Improve matters: they enter the school
rooms, often drunk, with a pire in the
mouth, and their hats on and give absurd
orders, which the poor teacher must
obey or run the risk of losing his place