Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-05-01
EDUCATION IN BERLIN.
THE CAPITAL is THE NUCLEUS OF
THE NATIONAL SYSTEM,

in His Schools and Gymnasia-Atten-
ton Paid to the Instruction of the
Girls Throughout the Empire,
Germany seems most satisfactorily to
have solved the problem of education for
all. Berlin nay be considered as the nu-
cleus of the whole national system, and
from this center it has radiated with
trifiing and ~unimportant notifications
over the entire fatherland. Taking the
capital as the representative center, there
are in Berlin two royal high schools' for
girls at which the terms for each pupil are
100 marks, or twenty dollars a yearl The
directors receive salaries of 5000 marks.
and those of the professors vary from 500
to 1900 marks.
There are five 'civil high schools' where
the pupils are received on the same terms,
where the women teachers are paid from
700 to 2,400 marks. There are also 1870
"civil communal schools" where the schol-
ars are taught gratuitously; the directors
and teachers receive, in addition to their
residences, salaries not much lower than
those of their colleagues.
Every branch of education receives the
most careful attention, and all the profess
sors are qualified eminently for their task,
hAo nave oue HISucSO pOSSiDle respect LOT
and consciousness of the dignity of their
vocation. History and literature are prom
inent studies; English, French and Italian
are taught, and music to any one DESTROYS
of taking up the study.
IN CITIES.
1t is exceedingly rare that a German girl
does not cultivate at least one art; there
are several Conservatives of music and a
number of excellent studios, with masters
and mistresses of tested eminence, at which
they can perfect themselves in music, sing
ing and painting at prices merely nominal.
At fifteen girls generally leave school, but
for one or two years more they attend pre-
paratory classes that enable them to pass
the higher teachers examination. This
practice obtains in the upper and official
circles, where it Is not a necessity, and with
the best results, as the standard of educa-
ton is most remarkable in these classes of
society, especially taking into considera-
ton that the girls are not dependent on
their studies for a future livelihood.
Dresden and Stuttgart, like many other
German towns, have excellent schools, but
they are ~frequented by more foreigners
than those in Berlin. Over and above the
establishments just mentioned are several
institutes" in Berlin. One, the "Louisen
institute" called after the founder, Queen
Louise, is now under the patronage of the
reigning empress; another, the "Kaiserin
Augusta %stift," was founded by the aged
empress, and was the object of her con-
slant thought and intelligent supervision,
10 the last she was its active %patroness,
and knew all the inmates by name, taking
the ~liveliest interest in their welfare and
progress. Young girls are admitted to the
"stift" at the age of ten and remain there
until their confirmation. The old Emperor
William and the Empress Augusta had
long been in the habit of assisting at this
religious ceremony every year, and also at
the rarer but yet not infrequent occasions
of baptism.
REWARDS FoR GOOD GIRLS.
Some time G the wife of the first sec.
rotary Of the Japanese legation in Berlin
was instructed in the tenets Of the Chris
tian religion, and at her desire received
into the church. The aged sovereign was
her godfather, and gave her the name of
Augusta. Many R~oumanian, Servian and
Montenegrin girls are educated at this in"
stitution, but the greater number are hon
est little Germans, whose chief induce
ment to perseverance n application is
| the prospect of being able to kiss the hand
~ SAS AApANH oNA SAAAN " II liz llSU
time at Christmas, when they are invited
regularly to the palace to a Christmas tree
prepared for them; the second time at
Easter, when their majesties open to them
the royal park of Bellevue and let them
look for the Easter eggs hidden in the
grounds, in presence of the assembled
court, while the religious ceremonies of
confirmation and occasional baptisms af-
ford the loyal little maidens other oppor-
tunities of testifying their veneration and
gratitude.
Apart from the more ambitious estab-
ighments there are a great number of
smaller private schools remarkably well
managed by middle aged ladies who are
not allowed to take u license for teaching
If they cannot prove that they lave sue
cessfully passed the higher examinations
for such a license. AS q rule German
children are sent to a preparatory school as
carly as six years of age to prepare, if
girls, for the higher schools; if boys, for
the gymnasia. In the latter the pupil
passes through all the classes to the bacca-
laureate, which is reached generally at
nineteen, after which they go to the uni
versity.
II GYMNASIA.
Most of these gymnasia are immeasura-
DAy superior TO the average SclOOl IN other
countries, and the course of studies is cal
eulated to turn out perfectly grounded and
generally we'll informed youths. Among
the best are the "Wilhelm Gymnasium
and the "Wende Institute" the latter be-
ing where Prince Bismarck spent some
time. For the students who prefer it, there
are the "Real Schulen," or practical
schools, where no Greek is taught, and
where young men are not prepared for the
university.
When foreign parents are not able to ex-
patriate themselves and make a home for
the children on whom they wish to confer
the advantages of a first rate education on
moderate terms, there is no difficulty in
housing them in a German family where
they will soon inc themselves quite as free
and comfortable as in their own homes.
Many respectable people, moving in charm
ing society, can be found willing to open
their doors to foreign boys and girls, and
to treat them almost with parental care.
Considering the monetary basis of these
arrangements the profits to the hosts must
be purely nominal, while there are consid-
cradle advantages for the guests in the ar