The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-04-24
EDUCATION IN BERLIN.
THE CAPITAL Is THE NUCLEUS OF
THE NATIONAL SYSTEM.


Girls Throughout the Empire.
Germany seems most satisfactorily to
have solved the problem of education for
all. Berlin may be considered as the nu-
cleus of the whole national system, and
from this center it has radiated with
trifing 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 year! 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 2,4C0 marks. There are also $50
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,
and have the highest possible respect for
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 OTHER CITIES.
1t is exceedingly rare that German girl
| does not cultivate at least one art; there
are several Conservatives of music and
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 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 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 stiff" was founded by the aged
empress, and was the object of her con-
slant thought and intelligent supervision.
To the last she was it's 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 ago 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 Roumanian, Servian and
Montenegrin girls are educated at this in
stituton, but the greater number are hon
est little Germans, whose chief induce
ment to perseverance and application is
the prospect of being able to kiss the hand
of the empress four times a year-the first
time at Christmas, when they are invited
regularly 80 the palace to 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 baptisns az
ford the loyal little maidens other oppor-
~, Of 1a,r and
gratitude.
Apart from the more ambitious estab
hshments there are a great number &C
smaller private schools remarkably well
managed by middle aged ladies who are
not allowed to take license for teaching
if they cannot prove that they have sue
cessfuliy passed the higher examinations
for such a license. AS rule German
children are sent TO preparatory school as
early 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.
THE GTMSAsIA
Most of these gymnasia are immeasura-
bly, superior TO the average school In other
countries, and the course OF studies Is cal
culated to turn ont perfectly grounded and
generally well 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 aoie 10 ex- 1
patriate themselves and make home for 1
the chH6ren on whom they wish 20 confer 1
the advantages OF first rate education on !
moderate terms, there IS no aihfculty In /
housing them IN a German family where /
they VIII soon find themselves qnite as free /
and comfortable IN their OWL homes /
Many respectable people, moving IN Charm /
ing society, can be found willing 20 open /
their doors 20 foreign boys and girls, and /
70 treat them almost with parental care
Considering the monetary basis OF tlese !
arrangements the profits TO the hosts EOst
be purely nominal, while there are consic-
erabie advantages for The guests IN tie ar
rangernent- The young strangers readily |
acquire the language, and their studies az
school or gymnasium are thus much Laclil- !
tsted; they are, besides. put IL the way OF
. good deal OF social relaxation Of per
10y wholesome kind. and Of a.se1diAS.