Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-07
swEDRN's GOOD SCHOOLS.
Nhey Are Among the Best in the { World-EducatiOnaI Standard
 Constantly Rising.

Sweden seldom attracts the attention of the average American teacher, all though in matters educational it has many lessons for educators throughout the world. The standard of popular edu- cation in Sweden has been steadily ris- ling from the time of the reformation, and fhe indications point to even greater efhciency ahead, states an educational journal. It should be noted that large preponderance of the population of the Kingdom has remained of rural charac- Rcter, and public education has been adapted most closely to agricultural needs. The first beginnings of the na- tionaI school system were made in 1686. Tn that year a law was enacted to in- sure for all children sound, religious ed ucation, so far as reading and knowledge of the Lutheran cathecism were con- cerned. Tn 1S42 the national compulsory law of education was introduced. Mod- flying acts have appeared since, but the present system comes from that date AS result of it's excellence practically everyone in the country can read and write. t. The boundaries of parish and school district usually coincide. The deliberattve authority is the parish council, and the executive is school board, which is made of the pastor as chairman and four men chosen by the council. The national government em- ploys 47 inspectors, appointed for six years, to take general oversight of the schools. These inspectors are under the direction of the general department of education. Itwould seem as though this elaborate system of supervision might account for the prevailing high stand-s ard of excellence. Each school dis trict is compelled by law to have at least one school If possible it must have two divisions-a junior and 8 se- nior. In the larger places there are schools somewhat like our high schools. The school age begins with the end of the child's seventh year and ends with its fourteenth although even then he may not be exempt unless he has reached certain grade. The course of study in- cludes. as obligatory, religious instruc== ton, the ordinary elementary subjects, geometry, physical and natural science, gymnastics, manual training and gar idening.
 There are 12 training colleges fin the country, seven for men and five for wom- en. Bach has practice school at- tached to it. Considering the qualifica- ttions required the teachers salaries seem small. The salaries of senior certificate masters and mistresses are only $162 for the first five years, with increases of s27 for each succeeding pc riod of five years, up to $216. They re- ceive in addition lodgings, fuel, forage for COW or equivalent in money. The cost of maintenance is divided between the school district and the state. The districts provide and maintain the school buildings, furniture, apparatus, cleaning and warming. and, with gov ernment aid, pay the salaries. The state supports the pension funds and maintains the training colleges and the Inspectors. The Swedes have intro duced a number of interesting features into their system. Among these are holiday colonies for weakly children, workshop refuges for the very poor and high schools intended to educate younger persons Of the humber classes in civic duties and the like.