The Grit-advocate., 1901-08-23
HESCHOOLS OF NORWAY
EVERYBODY IN NORWAY CAN
BOTH READ AND WRITE.
Education Compulsory Bstween the Ages
of Seven and FOurteen-CODpuisory
Studies Include the Bible, the Cate
chism and the Lutheran Creed.

IL schoOlhouse, ,-Says William Il. Curtis.
writing from Norway to the Chicago
Record Herald Few countries have SO
thorough and extensive an educational
system as Norway. and the other day
when | asked the ratio of illiteracy,
Professor Nelson of the University
looked surprised and replied that he
was not aware of any illiterates; that
he did not recollect having ever seen
any statistics on the subject, and ven
tured to assert that everybody in Nor
way could both read and write.
Education is free and compulsory
throughout the entire primary system.
course of seven years between the
ages of seven and fourteen. while the
law prohibits the employment of chill
dren in any occupation and requires
them to attend school at least thirty
hours a week for twelve weeks each
year in the country and fifteen weeks
In the cities The maximum term is
forty weeks in both city and country
districts. There are in the Kingdom
1923 school districts, governed by
"SkOlestyret''-bOar consisting Of the
parish priest. the president of the Mu-
nicipaI Council and one of the teachers
chosen by themselves.
The compulsory studies in the pri-
mary schools are the Bible. the cate
chism of the Lutheran creed, the Nor
wegian language. the usual elementary
branches, with history. fncludins the
fundamental principles of hygiene and
the effects of the use of intoxicating
liquors. singing. drawing. wood cary
ing. the use Of the lathe and other tools,
manual trimming, gymnastics and rifle
shooting.
The national law requires that school
houses shall be so located US to be
within distance of two miles of the
residences of the children of school age.
The poor are provided with textbooks
upon application, and in some cases the
Municipal Council provides every child
4 warm dinner at noon. 1t can be paid
for if the parents prefer, but the better
classes look upon this provision with
prejudice. as they do upon all charities.
Nevertheless it is an excellent idea to
be- sure that the children of the poor
get at least one warm and wholesome
meal every day. In the city Of Chris
tiania last year BOP meals were
served in the primary schools, an aver
age of 5,42O daily. The average at
tendance was %, $50, so that only about
twenty-fOur per cent of the children
took advantage of the free dinners
Only 1891 meals We're paid for. and
those were taken on stormy days by
the children of well-to-do parents.
In Norway school teachers must be
graduates of state normal schools OF
which there are ten in the kingdom;
they must pass examinations and serve
Il probation of three months before
they are definitely engaged, but when
they have once received an appoint
mcnt they are settled for life and sure
Of Il pension at the end of Il long term
Of faithful service. The same rule ap.
plies to all civil service employees, for
the school system is n part of the gov.
ernment. There is no such thing as TO.
tation in office. Promotion is expected
by all who deserve it. A worthy and
efficient teacher, having begun in youth
at the lowest grade. expects advance
ment to the highest according to the
Judgment of the school boards and sli-
pervisors. School teaching is IL career.
just as IA government clerkship is a ca
reeer People enter both professions
with the expectation of making them
their life work. although from our
point of view they offer very little in
ducement.
The average salary of the school
teachers in Norway is only about $500
year, the men receiving little above
the average and the women Il little less.
The highest salaries are paid in the
city of Christiania9. 200 kroner for
men and for women 1,550 kroner. A
krone is % cents in our money. Head
masters to the numbnr nf 900 likn