The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-10

4 Mas, sFIoda, sweden, Aug. Din
the important field Of education
Sweden has taken high rank. Modern
botany and modern chemistry can al
most be said to owe their origin to
this country. Then came gymnastics
the Ling SYSTEM A few years
ago sloyd was born as a school SUBJ
ject, and new word was slipped into
the dictionaries of all progressive ma
tons. :. =,
TWAS here at Mas that the start
was made in 1872. And now in these
latter days this same place has
started a new educational develop.
naent that bids fair to take it's place
in the front rank with a rapidly
eclipsing even that of sloyd. This is
the scientific use Of games in the
schools and in the bringing up of chill
dance games. This is what brought
me to Mas. But first a few words
about the school.
It owes its foundation to A. Abra-
hanson, a merchant of Gothenburg,
who devoted to it his fortune and the
last years Of his life. His nephew,
Director O. Solomon, has been from
the beginning the engineer in charge,
the general-in-chief, the man whose
fertile+-brain never wearies to find
new means of instruction and to pre-
vent education from Slipping into rou-
tine:-~~Fhe school is now a state insti-
tuition bequeathed In its entirety by
the founder. r.,
i The location IS one of the most
charming Imaginable, in the midst of
an estate of 5000 acres, with large
castle and a great number Of build
| ings, fields and forests, all of which
| are part of the institution. Nor
should one forget the chain of charm
ing lakes and the long low stone
bridge across 1t, the hills and rocks
on all sides, and, the fresh summer
air.
AS it is a normal school, only teach.
ers are admitted. Those from Sweder
pay for board only. Foreigners pay
assmal1 tuition. The courses are ar.
ranged principally for the summer
months. There is one course of si7
! weeks and. a shorter one Of four fol
sloyd and games courses. There are
other courses for training teachers ii
! school cooking, in gardening and ii
needleMork, with periods Of varying
Here tsa surprising number of for
eigners, especially English and Ameri
cans. Sometimes as much as 30 O
/ 40 per cent are foreigners. Eacl
comes and is agreeably surprised t.
find So many conapatriots. But eve1
!. If he found none, he would not lon
remain stranger. It is the foreign
er's constant surprise to find tina
nearly all the native students spea:
English, German and French witt
: great facility. An esprit de corps
soon established. The personality Q
; the director himself is one Of the mai
factors in making everyone feel a
home Immediately. There are no sa
faces here
The day begins at 1880 with a ligf
breakfast. From 8 to OILS the direc
tor lectures for all students who VI
Z: derstand Swedish. This is alwa5
\ given in the open air under the tree
+ when the weather permits. A sho1
4 prayer by one of the students and
song precedes the lecture. It harper
often during the lecture that the d
rector suggests a song. It makes
! pleasant interruption, and then til
work goes on much more snoothl
The students never sing with accom-
paniment, and they all sing-at leas
it seems so. =, 49,
After the lecture, the SUDDEN
march to their respective places, sing
t ing as they go. At noon luncheon
d served, and from 1 o'clock to 5 it
8 work. Then dinner, with a recess
f when the students gather on the hill
n sides. in little coffee cliques. At
l:another+ lecture and prayer, and te
Q at $50. After tea all students ple
e on the campus at various games, IL
! l;cluding baseball and basketball. /