The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-12-02
GERMAN SCHOOL DAYS.

his lines are cast than those of boys of
university professor who has just re-
turned from prolonged studies abroad,
recently related his experience with
the public schools in Germany. He
remarked, by the way, that in certain
| parts of the country there seemed to
be no children. There were plenty
of small people, but no evidences of
childhood, as We know it, Wishing
| TO place his own son of eleven years in
the public schools, and being always
ardently interested in the cause of
education, he made point of visiting
the schools extensively and leisurely,
and the results to his mind were fur
from happy. The masters, for the
most part, he found to be domineering
autocrats, abusing their power in n
way to rouse the Fourth of July spirit
of the meekest American lad. For
the slightest failure of quick re-
sponse, n rendy answer-there we're
no such things rs misdemennors, poor
little souls THE boys were brutally
held up by the chin, lifted by the cars,
had books flung Mt their heads, or
received n sharp blow over the knuck-
| lee.
Then they have nearly twice the
number of hours week that the
American boy has, going to school a.
seven o'clock in the morning, except
in mid-wiuter, when the school be-
gins at eight, and spending n good
part OF the day there. In point of
discipline the schools are all alike, and
the American boy was sent to ono of
them. Though never molested him
self, the acts of injustice and the cruel
use of power that he daily witnessed
worked upon his sympathies and lib
erty-loving spirit to such degree
that his parents thought best finally to
take him out of school.
Even the holidays nrs spent in a
way few American boys would be like
ly to choose. The pupils are mar
shnled in regiments through the cities,
taught the topography of the country,
the history rid Significance of all the
monuments, are shown points of his
toric interest, the homes of dstin.
guished men, ETC.. And while these
are excellent and necessary things for
boys to know, the American boy is
expected to pick up such information
in tue course of his play. On other
days they are taken into the woods to
gather and anulyze flowers, go out on
a geological survey, or for lesson in
natural history. These latter, how
ever, are of such immense service and
may be made 30 interesting that they
are perhaps worth the sacrifice of d
holiday. and constitute feature OF
their education to which We nigh,
we'll aspire.
Another enormous advantage that
American boys have, is the delightful
literature that is placed at their dis
posal. / wonder how many of then
realize that some of the noblest and
finest minds in the country devote
their entire lives to the youths of tn,
land.
In Germany on the contrary. there
is tremendous dearth OF good book,
for boys. Youths literature is for
the most part excessively juvenile nnt
weak. Except for their peerless fairy
stories, there is almost nothing o.
value, and but'for the fact that som.
Of the best English and American
books for boys have been translated
into German, the boys and girls O
the Vaterlnnd would have little bu
the school books and the most pueril,
stories until such time as they were
ready for reading of the maturer sort.
In fact, boys are kept absolutely il
leading strings, until sent to college,
when they enjoy full liberty. Tn,
result OF this system is that terribl,
crop Of wild oats is sown in the frs
years of college life. Those who hav.
the hardihood to como through thi,
safely, settle down into the thorough
going, typical German, but too many
alas. having sown tho wind, reap til.
] whirlwind.