Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-09-05
Education in the City Of GOthenborg.

Education in the City OF GOthenborg.
A celebrated feature of the city is its
corporation houses, on the Peabody and
similar plans, occupying 1913 buildings,
comprising 1000 rooms and 500 kitch-
ems, accommodating 563 families. with
3,515 souls, accommodating thus ABOUT
four per cent. of the population. The
houses are of six different kinds. be-
longing to as many different societies,
some designed for but one family,
others for one family in the upper and
one in the lower story, and each Of
these has its little garden plat attached ;
others hold groups of five or six fami-
lies with two or three rooms apiece
under the same roof and with their
common yard and garden; others, for
the very poorest, have but one room
and some closets per family; but all are
we'll built, thoroughly drained and ven.
tilated, we'll supplied with necessary
conveniences. and with every precau-
ton taken against fire and vermin. The
rents are fixed at very low figures for
those who desire to remain in them
temporarily; but q man by paying a
slightly advance scale becomes in eight
cen years the owner of his house or
suite of apartments. The proprietary
societies are founded by the legacies
and subscriptions of philosophical
citizens, and all the returns over four
per cent. on the capital invested, and
insurance, management and repairs, are
applied to the extension of the system
and the further lowering of the rents.
Education throughout Sweden, is
free and compulsory, and Gothenborg
has many fine public schools, hand
somely housed, and instruction is given
in manner similar to ours, the very
great majority of the teachers being
females. But very peculiar feature,
which l have seen nowhere else except
in the Hungarian schools lis the mechani-
cal instruction impaired by skilled mas
ter-workmen, regularly employed as
the other teachers are, who have classes
of boys for four hours day for three
days in each week, in rooms in the base
ments and in the attics of the large
school buildings, where practical in
struction is given to the lads, as so
many apprentices, in tin-smithing,
blacksmithing, carpentry, brush-mak'
ing, wood turning and carving, book
binding, painting and basket.making-
offcourse, the classes alternate from
regular school exercises to this practi-
cal mechanical instruction, and the boys
after being tested short time in all the
trades are given the option of selecting
two out of these, and, after further
test, the life trade is designated and then
more prolonged and thorough instruc-
ton is given, the pupil becoming kind
of journeyman. The boys commence at
an average of 10 years Of age and con-
tinue to receive this instruction until
they leave school, which is usually at
the age of IA; and 1900 boys, under
twenty teachers are now receiving in
struction in these practice schools.
The little fellows, in their workmen's
aprons, seemed to be happy and to be
proud of their work, which was really
creditable for young beginners, the
favorite trades being carpentering, wood
turning and scroll-sawing. At the same
time they receive instruction in the
regular schools in sketching, designing
and mechanical drawing, and I was as
| tonished at some of the specimens they
showed me; one of the boys, George
Hanson, being evidently decided
genius, a blue-eyed, yellow haired, bare
footed Scandinavian Giotto.
Girls have also their separate classes
for primary or elementary instruction
in the the appropriate branches OF
female labor. And in q stone building
of handsome appearance, as large as
our B@stow School, is an institution
which viewed with peculiar interest,
q training-sc for girls for domestic
service; they are taken, twenty-nine at
a time, from volunteers from the public
schools, at an average commencing age
of 16 years, and must remain in this
school, where they lodge and have their
meals, for two and half years, and
after once entering they must remain
through the entire course.
The working hours are from q. m.
to 8 p. NJ; they have Sundays ifor
church, or for home visits, at their
option, but must be back in the school
at 8 p. m. of that day. Instruction is
given in housekeeping, baking, cook
ing, laundry and needle-work, six
months continuously in each. and then
they go for six months concluding
course to part of the building occu.
pleu aS u cTecHe, OF place where laOOrlnR
! women can leave their infants or tender
children to be cared for while they 20
work. Here the girls are taught the
care. training, nursing and rearing of
children, providing for all their wants,
mending their clothing, etc., and in.
struction is given in the treatment of
the simpler diseases of little folk.
We went out into the playground
where some thirty wee toddlers were
assembled under great trees, with their
watchful young nurses, sitting or stand.
ing around, and the tiny folk crowded
about our legs with cries of "Good.7'ag
Good 1a9w calling our attention to their
kittens, piles of sand aud playthings.
The great kitchen was model of
neatness and good order. A great tin
hood suspended high above the huge
stove carried off all steam and SMELLS
common arrangement in Swedish
houses. In the wash-room row of
fourteen bright, handsome girls were
vigorously at work at as many wash
tubs; others were in the laundry, where
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