The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1904-09-22
ACA HE system of industrial ed
4 - Y ucation in Germany, which
. IL Q has attained high state of
4 n development, is made the

port by United States Deputy Consul
Meyer at Chemnitz This is the first
OF series OF consular reports on
specialized educational facilities which
have contributed so largely to the
phenomenal success Of the German
Empire in manufactures and COM
merce.
At the base Of the German educa-
tional edifice lie the Volksschulen, or
common schools. Attendance at the
Volksschule is compulsory between the
ages Of six or seven and fourteen.
When the young student reaches his
tenth year, very important age has
been attained from the point of view
of education. At this age his parents
must decide upon the general form of
education which they desire their off
spring to receive. Their means and
position in life will largely determine
the decision as to whether it will be
merely primary education lin the
Volksschule), secondary education lin
the Hohere Schule), or a higher educa-
ton Tin the Hochschule). If primary
education is decided upon the child
continues in the Volksschule. If a
secondary education, or perchance. a
higher education, is to be given, then
the tenth year marks the time when
the child leaves the Volksschule and
enters some secondary institution,
such as a gymnasium, realgymnasium,
or ober-realschule; or a progymnasium.
real-progymnasium, or realschule; or
Trade or technical school of secondary
rank; or private institution which has
been ranked by the state as second
airy school. The secondary schools
offer courses of either nine or six
years.
While the child is pursuing his
course in the secondary school, another
decision must be made which involves
not only the means Of the parents, but
also the natural aptitudes and abilities
of the child If the means are limited
then very likely a course in a second
airy school with six years course
will be pursued by the child after the
attainment Of the tenth year, or prob
ably a course in a trade school or Sec
ondary technical school, in preparation
for some profession in middle life, such
as that of artisan, skilled textile
worker, or lower engineer or mechanic.
III sufficient means are at hand, then
the son will be prepared for a higher
education, which will be either CLASH
cal gymnasium, leading to some
higher profession, like theology, medi-
cine or law; or semi-classical real-
gymnasium, also leading to some
higher professions; or non-classical
(ober-realschule), in preparation for a
business career, for a course at some
industrial high school, or, less fire.
quently, for medicine or law.
The age of fourteen, the year at
which the Volksschule is, as rule,
completed, marks another turning
point in the educational career of the
cAild. The boy may enter either a
general continuation school (allgemeine
fortbildungsschule) in which are re-
peated and expanded some of the most
necessary studies of the Volksschule,
or he may enter one of the two classes
OF industrial continuation schools-a
general industrial continuation school
{gewerbliche Fortbildungsschule) or a
commercial continuation school Qkauf-
mannische Fortbildungsschule).
German, drawing and arithmetic are
the three great branches taught in the
continuation schools, though more adj
yanced work in geometry, physics and
chemistry is given in few Of the best
schools. To these studies must be
added instruction in such subjects as
possess a particular value to a local
industry or Industries. The CONNER
cial continuation schools distinguish
themselves from the general Industrial
continuation schools in that they en-
phasize the commercial studies-viz.,
correspondence, bookkeeping, lang
uages, commercial arithmetic, CONNER
cial geography and Office work.
1t is Important to note that the child
first comes il contact with the system
OF industrial education after graCua-
ton from the VolksscEule. In scme
states it is permissible to substitute
special trade school (gewerbliche Each
schule) for continuation school, par
ticularly for persons preparing for
profession. Furthermore, q primary
commercial school, a primary textile
school, or school for mechanics or for
locksniths, ETC., may be substituted
for the continuation school, as rule,
however, these special trade schools,
even if elementary, require the compile
lion Of some continuation school for
admission, to insure proper maturity
OF mind in the study of profession.
Here, then, is the end Of the edu-
cational career Of a child destined for
nothing more than a primary eGuca-
ficn. The Yolksschule course, plus a
compulsory, or rarely optional continu-
atioa school course. or, in substitution,
Sor1e industrial continuation or trade
school course, is the sum total of
primary education in Germany. which
is completed at the age Of fifteen, six
teen, or at times seventeen years.