The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1904-10-19

eoA HE system of industrial ed.
ucation in Germany. which
. ~ = has attained a high state Of
development, is made the
S1OW subject Of an interesting re-
port by United States Deputy Consul
Meyer at Chemnitz. This is the first
Of a 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 edif1ce 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. a 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 or
spring to receive. Their means and
position in life will largely determine
the decision as to whether It will be
merely a primary education Tin the
Volksschule). a secondary education lin
the Hohere Schule), or a higher educa.
ton lin the Hochschule). II q primary
education is decided upon the child
continues in the Volksschule. II
secondary education, or perchance.
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; n a progymnasium.
real-progymnasium, or r%ealschule; or q
trade or technical school Of secondary
rank; or a private institution which has
been ranked by the state as q second
airy school. The secondary schools
oner courses of either nice 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. II the means are limited. |
then very likely q course in q second |
airy school with a six years course
will be pursued by the child after the
attainment Of the tenth year, or prob
ably a course in q trade school or Sec
ondary technical school. in preparation
for some profession in middle life, such
a. that of artisan. skilled textile
worker, or lower engineer or mechanic.
II SUFFICIENT means r at hand, thea
the son will be prepared for q higher |
education. which will be either classi.
cal Gymnasium, leading to some
higher profession, like theology. medi-
cine or law; Or semi-classical (real-
g~ymnasium). also leading to some
profession: or non-classical
(ober-realschule), in preparation for q
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, a. . rule.
marks another turning
point In the educational career Of the
cAild. The boy may enter either q
general continuation school (allgemeine
fortbildungsschule) in which are re-
peated and expanded some Of the most
necessary studies Of the Volksschule,
o. he may enter one Of the two classes
OF Industrial continuation schools-a
general industrial continuation school
(gewerbliche Fortbildungsschule) or q
commercial continuation school kauf-
nannische F0rtbildungsschule).
German, drawing and arithmetic are
the three great branches taught in the
schools. though more ad-
vanced work in geometry, physics and
is given in a few Of the best
schools. To these studies must be
added instruction in such subjects as
possess q particular value to a local
industry or industries. The CONNER
cial continuation schools distinguish
from the general industrial
schools in that they en-
phasize the commercial studiesLviz.,
correspondence. bookkeeping, lang
uages. commercial arithmetic. commer.
cial geography and. office work. !
1t IL important to note that the child
orst comes in contact with the system
Of Industrial education after gradua.
ton from the volksschule. In some
states It II permissible to substitute y
special trade school (gewerbliche Each
schule) for q continuation school, par
dculariy for persons preparing for Z
profession. Furthermore. 4 primary