Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-07-09
SCHOOLS IN GERMANY.
f1Oss' Teachers Are Trained, sustaisod and
Paid A. tho vateriand.

Co., si-stlnB Wnat would DC about our
high school course, must DO seventeen
years old before entering this normal
school, and therefore about twenty be-
toro beginning to teach, writes a corre-
spondcnt Of the Chicago Journal. On
finishing this normal course thcy have
to pass thorough states examination
by board entirely unconnccted with
tho normal school, and after passing this
examination they arc givcn q school
professionally for two years. At tho end
OF this time they pass a second ex-
animation, in which is considered their
record for tho two years past as to con-
duct and fitness for teaching. On re-
ceiving this certificate they must be at
least twenty-five years old, and now
enter their life work. There is no way
of entering tho profession except
through these normal schools, and tho
demand and supply can be so regulated
that every graduate is sure of Il place,
and is suro Of keeping that place as
long as no is fit for it. If tho graduate
has some particular vacancy in view,
and tho directors of that district wish
him. no is assigned there; if not, then
he and two others arc sent to q place
where there is q vacancy, and the direct
ors have tho privilege of choosing among
the three. Onco installed no can be re-
moved only on complaint of the in
spcctor and directors before tho superior
board, and on full proof of bad character
or neglect OF duty. Tho question of
competency is settled by his certificate.
He is supposed to get married about
this time-a duty seldom neglected.
and tho district furnishes him O. COM
Portable house Of about six rooms, with
garden. Oftentimcs this house is
joined on the school building or con-
siStS of rooms above. If there are
several teachers in tho school, then
each is provided with house. Tho
school hours arc from eight to eleven
and ono to four, six days in tho week,
with Wednesday and Saturday after
moons free. Tho longest vacation is
four weeks in summer, about ton days
each at Christmas and Easter, and Sum
day holidays, making about two months
vacation in all during tho year. Chill
drcn arc compelled to attend school
from the age Of six to fourteen, bows
until fifteen, so that every child, with q
very fow exceptions, gets from eight to
ninc years of schooling, ten months in
y
inspection, and that must como up to q
given standard, which is high one. A
great deal can be learned in this time
from thoroughly-traincd teachers, and
this is probably just about double the
amount of actual schooling that the av-
eragc country boy and girl of America
get, to say nothing of tho hosts in the
cities that get mono. rho Bible is taught
one horr each day, and if cvory young
German does not know his Bible thor
oughly, it is not for lack of tho oppor-
tunity. Mon only arc employed as
teachers, for tho reason that the state
does not wish to give so much caro- and
expense to tho preparation of teachers
who 90 not expect to made q life-work
Of it, and who, in the nature of things,
would teach but few years as
rule. Boys and girls just out OF tho
common schools themselves, and scarcely
ahead of their oldest pupils, studcntsO
working their way through college, and
young mon studying for profession, find
no opportunity hero to try their hand at
teaching for n few months or years.
This may be hard on poor but ambitious
youths, bat is q decided blessing for
the pupils. In all villages and towns
under 10000 inhabitants the wages of
teachers arc, on an average, IS follows:
For tho FIRST ten years they get all told
about $500 year, tho actual cash salary
being about 1915, to which arc to DO
rccloned tho house, garden, fuel, etc.
After ton years of service and each five
years thereafter thoy receive On addition
Of So year until they have been thirty
years in service, when tho maximum of
S525 year is reached. In tho larger
cities tho pay is increased according to
the proportional greater expense of liv-
ing. This is not largo pay, but there is
no timo lost while out of work or during
long. vacations, tho cost of living is
small, and tho teacher Is much better off
than most of his noighbors, ranking
next to tho pastor in Importance and
public esteem. At sixty years of ago no