New-York tribune., 1899-07-16
EDUCATION IN DENMARK.
A BRAVE SHOWING FOR THE LITTLE
KINGDOM
THE PEOPLES HIGH SCHOOLS" SAYS MISS FRAN
cEs FRENCH. HAVE SUCCEEDED N AwAK-
BNING THE POOREST PEASANTS
FROM THEIR TORPOR."

ENING THE POOREST PEASANTS
FROM THEIR ToRPoR."
An interesting report OF education in Denmark,
prepared by Miss Frances Graham French, special
ist in the school systems Of Northern and Eastern
Europe is issued by the United States Bureau OF
Education. and will doubtless prove a valuable ad-
dition to the library Of pedagoGics
In reviewing the general features OF the eduoa-
tona system. Miss French states that the schools
with required attendance OF all children between
seven and fourteen years Of age. are divided into
elementary grades OF two kinds IN the larger
cities namely pay schools and free schools IN
the country they include ambulatory schools ana
peoples higher and agricultural schools. the iast
mentioned being a continuation of the common
schools OF rural districts. Then there Is con-
Meeting lnk-the burgher school In the cities
leading TO the secondary grade C'rear ana
'leerde" schools. The former prepare for pracuca'
life the classical divisions for the university
The normal schools preplre teachers for desired
places The special schools Include polytechnic
veterinary agricultural and navigation SCHOOLS
There are also schools for tie defective classes
As in the other Scandinavian countries, religious
instruction is a main element In the schools ana the
clergy exercise parochial and general superN''ioh
over ell educational institutiors.
At the head Of the school system Is the Minister
OF Ecclesiastical Affairs and Public lns'rucuoh
which ministry covers two sections. The one 10.
supervision OF ecclesiastical affairs. elementary and
normal schools blind and deaf-mute instruction,
the other FOR the supervision Of secondary anu
higher schools libraries. museums and academirS'
The bishop Of each diocese reports annually coh'
cerning the educational standing OF that diocese
An nspectOr-general for the whole Kingdom !"
charge OF music and an Inspector for gymnasuc
training complete the list Of higher school ohce's
who by means Of the reports forwarded 10 then'
by local officers kept advised OF educauohh'
affairs throughout the kingdom In each paris"
and in each town the administration OF puplio
schools Is in the charge OF a School Commission,
composed OF the pastor as presiding officer ana
two members appointed for three years oy tue
Communal Council Outranking the School Colh-
mission In each district is the School BOARD. Inc
School Council OF each county ana the Nou"'s
School Board have control Of the hnanciai s'ue u
educational affairs.
THE MODEL SCHOOLS.
In Copenhagen the finely developed school system
forms a general model for all the schools Of Den
mark The School Board includes the Mayor
member Of the Aldermanic Council and an ecc'esl-
astcal functionary designated by the Minister %
Ecclesiastical Affairs and Public instruction Al
inspector is especially charged with all that con
Germs the administration Of the schools. kach oi
the wards Of the capital has school committee
OF three members. Each public school has an IN
spector. who is a teacher. lie has fewer hours Oh
recitation than his colleagues and receives hlgher
pay. His special duty is 10 look after aoseh'ees
and - notify the parents OF sucH Hch"aN'NN'
SCHOOLING OBLIGATORY.
The law Of 1914 upon which the school system is
based. makes It obligatory all parents that chill
dren attend school or receive home instruction.
Fines or Imprisonment are imposed upon parents or
guardians for nCn-enforcement Of this law Inc
State requires each commune to be PROVIDED win
suitable accommodation for all children OF schooi
age. gratuitous instruction being given 10 those
who cannot afford TO pay tuition fees. The ex-
t,,bo for
averages about 81 81 throughout the kingdom.
For the maintenance Of schools there are various
agencies. Finances. they pertain 10 educational
affairs are subject to the control OF the Minister
of Public Instruction. The main support OF ele-
rnentary schools depends upon county or district
funds with governmental subsidies for stated pur-
noses Normal schools maintained by state
funds Secondary schools and the university have
their own funds and independent Of the annual
amounts voted for the ministerial budget by the
Rigsdag
The necessary funds for construction and repairs.
heating purchase Of school material and for teach
ers' salaries in the elementary schools are voted
by the district communal authorities The an
nual increase in teachers salaries. their pensions
and those for the widow and orphan, are paid from
a county school fund. which also supports people
high schools. drawing schools etc. This fund
formed bv an annual subsidy from the State and
from revenues from taxation and contributions II
divided among the counties, ana Is under dlrecl
control Of the County School Board and the ochool
Council The former meets annually 10 determine
the required amounts for the ensuing year the
latter sanctions its decisions II favorable thereto
The general regulations says Miss French. apper-
tanning 10 teachers are as follows: BY law OF
July % 1861 a commission composed OF eleven mem
hers appointed by the Government attends 10 the
examination Of persons who desire 10 OBTAIN
teachers place Such persons must present them
selves for examination whether they have received
,f. sch
mission meets annually IN Copenhagen and In two
other cities Of the kingdom. The teachers are usu-
ally appointed TO the elementary grades by the
School Board OF the district according to the sug-
cestion Of the Communa, Council and the Bishop.
The public elementary school teachers in Copen-
hagen are reported In the different years accord
ing 20 the examinations which they have passed
SALARIES FOR MEN AND WOMEN
The aryest salary for women teachers in Copen-
hagen is s42s: the highest salary FOR men s HO6.
The first peoples high school founded in
Roddng in 1874 Since the opening OF the peoples
high schools and the agricultural schools between
sixteen hundred and eighteen hundred men and
av. hundred and six hundred women teachers
have been employed IN instructng the students
pursuing courses here These peasants continua-
ton schools have had remarkable success IN
Denmark The high schools now amounting 70
syty-seven besides eighteen agricultural schools
conducted on similar lines, have succeeded In
au,akening The poorest peasants-the ploughmen
the hedgers and 1itchers. the cooks and dairy
n aids the sailors and fishermen from their IN
tellectua torpor and IT. imparting 10 them wider
and more intelligent interest In men and things
"Out OF a working population OF about million
and a half" SAYS a recent English visitor there !
six thousand young men and women. most OF
them between the ages c. eighteen and twenty-five |
flock every year 70 thee schools and there live
n common life under ne same roof-the men for !
the FIVE or six winter months and the women for |
the three summer months"
The university in Copenhagen, with It's courses |
~ study In law and political science. theology !
medicine philosophy literature and philoogy |
and mathematical sciences was founded In 1873 |