Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-09-11
LETTER FROM MUNICH.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gszesse.l


public schools, afler that period, it is
often the cfse that the more fortunate
class of children attend private schools;
all private schools, however, are subject
to officisl inspection, and are required to
follow the course of instruction prescrib-
ed for the public schools, in so far, at
least, that upon entering the high school
there may be no. disparity In the work OF
students from the two schools.
One peculiar feature of the school
work is the emphasis laid upon religious
instruction. Another is the rigid phys
icsl examination.
As regards religious instruction, there
are not 80 many sects TO be dealt with
ss with US in America, still there are
Jews. Catholics and Pretestsnts. For
the Hebrew children, their own Rabbi
cones to the school ct stated times,
weekly; for the Romsnists, their own
priest, for the Protestsnts, their own
pastor. So much stress is laid upon the
matter, that in the final, all important
examinations, upon which boys future
standing practically rests, the voice OF
his religious instructor counts for double
value; that is, his report is worth two,
in making up the average of the students 8
record, while the report of any other in
structor, is reckoned as one.
A German lady recently asked an
American lady, 10 regard to the COVER
ness employed BY the American, "Is
she competent to give your children in-
struction in religion?" ''Thst my dear
madam" answered the America, sis
matter which dsvolves upon Christian
parents and pastors, in American, and
is not considered as part of the school
course" Space forbids that we tell of
all the sanitary precautions, ofthe public
baths in the schoolhouses, where, once
week, under the supervision of a teacher,
each child must bathe; of the soup.
kitchens, where hot lunch is provided,
free, for little hungry ones, upon the teach
er's recommendation; of the thorough
training in gymnastics for boys and
girls, OF the free excursions planned for
them, such as wrote Of from Switzerland ;
of the giant Christmas trees, where warm
clothing and shoes, food and toys are
distributed, in the name of the Christ
Child.
Whatever may be lacking 10 the home
the government endeavors to supply in
the school; the idea Is to give to the
taxpayers as much as possible, not as
little as possible, and to bring every
wholesome, ennobling and encouraging
influence to bear upon the development
of the children of the nation, the future
soldiers, statesmen, thinkers, laborers;
the future wives and mothers, of Ger
many.
That your readers may form some
idea OF the supervision exercised
over the sanitary condition of school
houses, and the physical condition OF the
children. your correspondent has found
time 10 translate for the Gazette
(between attendance upon picture exhi-
bitions and performances of the Wagner
opera the following report. II Is taken
from one of the leading German newspa-
pers, Die Munchner Neuste Nschrichten,
of August 81, 1906, and is the report Of
DIR. Sichinger, of Mannheim, of the
school examination.
Translation.
"With the Easter session OF 1905, the
regular duties of the school physician
began. These comprised the examina-
ton OF the sanitary condition of all the
school buildings, and of the general con.
duct and government of the school, as
well as an examination Of the physical
condition OF each school-child, individ.
ually. The school physician visited
each department of the school once a
month and conferred with the principal
over the sanitary and hygienic state Of
the school in general. Visiting each
class, he carefully observed the positions
taken by the children in sitting, especi-
ally while visiting; also the cleaning,
ventilation and heating of each room.
Sometimes these visit lincluded con-
su.tstion hour in separate room
during, which the teachers, msle and
female, introduced to the physician
special cases among the pupils, requiring
private treatment. The results we're
taken down in writing.
"These statistics comprise the number
Of baths given in the school house, the
number of free breakfasts furnished
Is, 1859, the periodical excursions to
points Of educational in terest, and the
cases OF special diseases, where further
treatment was necessary, in which cases
full information and advice we're furnish.
ed to psren,s or guardians. Five thous-
and four hundred and twenty-siI
boys and 1856 girls were regularly
lsrly measured, in order that they might
be assigned to benches and desks of the
proper proportion and height. Many a.
fections of the chest are traceabIe to the
long hours, during which the growing
child bends over an ill-6tting desk.
The especial efforts of the school ply