Wichita eagle., 1888-06-05
GERMANY'S SCHOOLS.
THE GRADES IN THE EDUCATIONAL
SYSTEM OF THE EMPIRE,

Social and Scholastic Distinctions Eigidiy
Enforced Vigorous Discipline Main
tanned - Politeness Toward Teachers
The Switch az Assistant-Bad Marks.
Private schools are but few In Germany
compared to their number in this country,
and most parents send their children to
the government schools. These are
divided into various kinds, according to
the studies and TO the social conditions of
the acknowledgements, attended by boys
who propose pursuing classic studies; real
schools, devoted to mathematics and eco
nomical studies rather than to classics
(the word real l-studien" means essential,
economical or polytechnical studies); higher
burger schools (citizens' Schools where
the prices for attendance ere even smaller
than the very modest ones paid in the two
FIRST named; lower burger schools. for sons
OF still less wealthy people; and, at last,
free schools. whose students pay nothing
The girls have higher daughter schools.
where the instruction and prices are high
est. though the latter are very moderate.
indeed Next in rank are the plain
daughter schools: while such young
ladies as cannot pay any school money at
all attend, like their brothers, those
ANONYMOUSLY called free schools.
SOCIAL DISTINCTIONS.
You see, there is most orthodox dis-
tinction between higher daughters" and
the girls who must be satisfied with being
daughters" without the adjective. There
being but slight difference between the
extent and number of studies taught in
either kind of school. it is plain that the
distinction made is caused by social pre-
judice. The students of the gymnasia are
never at peace with those of the real
schools. but admit them to be their equals
They treat the boys of the burger schools
with contempt. and this without going
into the details of higher or lower But
for gymnasiast to walk with or talk to a
boy of a free school, or to have anything
to do with him, except lighting. would be
considered by parents, teachers and com
panions as unGecoming and Extensively
low conduct. The girls, too. have pro
nounced opinions as to the proper sphere
for higher daughter or for q lower"
one, or for one who is neither higher nor
lower, but so exceedingly poor as TO be
called free" Free from pride and pre-
iudice, | suppose.
A German boy enters the lowest class
of the gymnasium. called "Sexta. when |
he is about s years Of age. The next class |
is called ''Quinta. then 'Quarta. Ter
tia. ''Secunda" and ''Prima" When he |
has toiled through ali If these he tries to |
pass the very difficult ''Ablturienten ex. |
amen" He has now an exclusive and |
thorough education. and may enter uni |
versity If he has successfully passed the |
examination he is then allowed to become |
a soldier That is 20 say, he would have |
to join the army anyway. but when he has
attended the gymnasium or real school up
to "Secunda. ne ,nters the ranks as a
volunteer. 1elng on-y compelled to serve
during one year and In Germany to be
forced to 5e a soldier for no longer than
one year mag be considered equal to voIun
teering III any Dther country
RIGOROUS DISCIPLINE
| have mentloneG he rigorous discipline
of German schoo.s This iisclpl:ne cali be
maintained On-y by the co operation of he
parents with .he teachers A well regu
lated system If reward and punishment,
with careful surveillance. holds the bows
under control If q parent does not agree
with some of the severe penalties inflicted
upon the boy his son Is apt to be expelled
for fear of his undermining the discipline
School begins about a. m at FIVE min
utes past that hour the doors are closed
and those who are late are not admitted.
but punished the next day The bows
await their teachers in their respective
class rooms When the teacher enters
they all rise as one boy and never Think
of sitting down before the teacher motions
them to do so When he leaves they go
through the same ceremony When boy
is asked question he rises and remains
until he is through No student
dare to omit lifting his cap when meeting
any teacher of the school on the street
The teachers of all classes up to ''Tertia"
are furnished with a reed or switch, which
is cheap and ever ready assistant a
boy is ordered to stretch his
hand out. the palm upward and before he
knows it be has got such whack as will
beat an entire Latin grammar at once into
his head.
1t is not invariably through the hand
however. that science and literature are
made to enter boys brain Some teach
ers consider the ears to be the best me
dunn, while others give preference to the
boys backs as presenting the broadest
surface Bad marks are given as the
iightest punishment. with the silent un
derstanding that two of them be equal TO
one thrashing When boy is kept In
after schooltime his parents are at once
notified of the fact. Not unfreouentlv
parent gets notice that his son is to stav
II school. not for q certain number of
hours. but of days Every school has q
aI, called Career" From one to eight
'r more days OF school prison is punish
nent for graver offenses If incurred re
the boy is expelled. This pun
shn,eat deprives Ism from being admitted
g sny other public school througho the
While in the school jail the bov
Las to psy for his board. He is then in
,ha-ge of the porter or ''custos' of the
chool hiladelphia Times.
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