Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-08-26

eases, who are said to be cured with
out any other treatment. The winter
sports. the chief of which is skeeing
as they call skating on snowshoes
also attract crowds from the cities.
You are scarcely ever out of sigh
of school house. Few countrie.
nave 50 thorough and extensive edu
cational system as Norway. and the
other day when | asked the ratio o
illiteracy Professor Nelson of the uni
versity looked surprised and replied
that he was not aware of any illit
crates; that he did not recollect oil
having ever seen any statistics upon
he subject, and ventured to assert
that everybody in Norway could read
and write.
Education is free and compulsory
throughout the entire primary sys
TEN, course of seven years between
he ages of Z and IA. when the law
prohibits the employment of children
in any occupation, and requires them
TO attend school at least thirty hours
d week for twelve weeks each year
Twelve weeks are required in The
iountry and fifteen weeks in the cit
les. The maximum term is forty
weeks in both city and country dis
ricts. There ale in the kingdom
1923 school districts, goyernerd by
'Skolestyret consisting oi
he parish priest, the president of the
municipal council and one of the
teachers chosen by themselves.
There is also a board of supervisors,
omposed of three men or women,
elected by the parents of the parish.
Childless people are not allowed to
vote. This board of supervisors
loes not appear to have any definite
JUNCTION except to advise and find
ault. The school board elects the
.eachers. determines the course Of
study and methods of discipline, and
iubmits recommendations and esti-
mates for appropriations annually to
he municipal council. In both city
md country what is called voluntary
Instruction" is provided outside of the
'egular school hours, which may be
aiken advantage of by people who
re willing to pay for additional at
.ention from the school teachers, but
is neither free nor compulsory.
In Norway school teachers must be
graduates of state normal schools, Of
Jhich there are ten in the kingdom;
hey must pass an examination and
ierve a probation but when they have
)nce received an appointment they
re settled for life and sure of a pen
lion at the end of long and faithful
iervice. The same rule applies to all
'ivil service employees, for the school
.ystem is a part of the government.
There is no such thing as rotation in
jtlice. Promotion is expected by all
Who deserve it. A worthy and eff
It the lowest grade, expects advance
nent to the highest, according to the
Judgment of the school boards and
,upervisors. School teaching is a
areer, just as government clerk
hip is a career. People enter both
professions with the expectation of
making them their life work, although
rom our point of view they offer very
title inducement
lie average SdldTy Vi ScHOUl lticH-
RS in Norway is only about 1920
ear, the men receiving a little above
he average and the women a little
ess. The highest salaries are paid
II the city of Christiania-4, 200 kro-
Ter for men and for women $50
,roner. A krone is 2S cents in our
money. Head masters to The num-
Jer of 1892. like parsons, are furnish
ID with houses to live in and little
.racts of land. three or four acres, on
which they can raise vegetables for
heir families and keep COWS; and
30 of them add little to their in
omes by serving as parish clerks.
When they become too old to teach
hey receive pensions of from 200 to
900 kroner year. and when they die
heir widows are remembered by the
overnment to the extent of 100 to
200 kroner per year.
The primary school system of Nor
way costs on an average of 1860 kro-
Ter per child per year in the country
ma 47.2S per child in the city, or$4.50
ear. WILLIAM II. CURTIS.