Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-23
GERMAN EDUCATION.
Technical Studies That Are Passed in
Kaiser's Realm.

Berlin Correspondence London Times
In England the term technical has come
to mean almost any kind Of study which is
neither elementary nor classical; it includes
cookery. needlework, foreign languages,
bookkeeping, photography, biological SCI
ence, art and host of miscellaneous SUBJ
jects On the whole, however, the idea OF
craft predominates; and most of the En-
glish technical schools have for their prfn-
cipal object the teaching of actual indus
tries. They supplement and fill out the
manual practice of the workshop or the
mill with wider knowledge, but the aim re-
mains directly practical. In Germany, On
the other hand, the term has come to De
associated more and more with pure knowi-
edge, and is now completely reserved Ior
those advanced academies which teach the
science underlying industries, but not the
industries themselves. l do not mean TO
imply that hard and fast line Is or can
be drawn between the domains of knoWl-
edge and practice in this connecticut; but
the predominance of one or the other pro-
duces a real distinction which gives
distinctive meaning to the names used.
Now, the different usage in regard to names
in the two countries has LED to CONFUSION OF
ideas. Institutions differing in character
and purpose are mixed up together through
the ambiguity surrounding the word tech
nical''
A more uniform. and more precise nomen-
clature is desirable to prevent this; and,
though the English usage, in which the
craft idea predominates, comes nearer to
the original significance Of the Greek word,
the Germans are first in the field. We are
following them, and since we borrow their
institutions we might as well accept their
terms, as they have accepted our strike"
"a curious and instructive exchange by the
way; we give them strikes, they give us
technical schools.) What We generally call
oo1o to, 1a1
"fashschulen," or gewerbeschulen-that is,
trade Schools" The rendering is not ex-
act; "fach' is properly something shut off,
a department, particular branch of oc-
cupation; and the real distinction is that
the fachschulen give special not gen.
eral education. We might call them spe-
cialty or occupation schools; but trade
schools is more familiar and sufficiently
exact. Fachschulen is a general term
which covers several kinds of institutions
having different aims and catering for diff
ferent classes. They fall into two main
groups. The first group, which provides
instruction for apprentices in the hand
trades and artisans, has been mentioned in
the previous article. I call these 'lower
trade schools The second group is large
and Of great direct Importance to the man
ufacturing industries The technical
schools" in our large manufacturing towns
correspond most nearly to these institutions,
which may be called higher trade schools"
Then above these Is the highest class
namely, the technical high schools" which
do not correspond to any of our educational
institutions. al -a.cof
Objection might probably be taken to this
grouping, as there are some schools which
do not come very decidedly within any of
the three classes. but stand," Internationally,
on the border line. That Is a matter of
course when institutions have been gradu-
ally developed to meet requirements as they
arose, and it does not inyalidate a broad
classification. Some such classification is
necessary If there is to be any clear con-
ception of the function performed by this
kind of education in Germany and, after
much consideration, the grouping suggested
seems best for the purpose 1t gives clear
view of the special educational provision
for industrial life In three broad divisions
% ordinary workmen; ca those above the
grade of workmen from foremen to manu-
1acturers; CD the high scientific experts,
consukantS and innoVators