Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-09
FOUNDED BYUNO CYGNAEUS
Centennial Anniversary of His Birth
Generally Celebrated.
IDEAS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES
Features Embrace Teachers Col
leges, Modelled After Those
in Switzerland.
Foreign Correspondence Of The Star.

HELS1NGFORS, october q, 1910.
Wednesday, October IL, all Finland
commemorated the hundredth anniv-
sary of the birth Of the man who was
the creator and organizer Of the Fin
nish national school system. Fetes
were held everywhere-in every town,
in every one Of the remotest schools in
the country-and to every child was
given an illustrated pamphlet setting
forth the doings and Importance of the
father of the Finnish "Volkschule."
Uno Cygnaeus was his name, and it
was he whom the country has to thank
for the fact that its national school
system is liberal. up-to-date and in
dependent OF the church. The Finnish
national school system is one Of the
newest in Europe, but it is Just for
this reason that it has been able to
turn to its own profit the experience
gained by other peoples.
Proposed by Emperor.
When Emperor Alexander II, the ben
efactor Of Finland, visited the Finnish
capital on his accession to the throne.
and attended a session of the highest
governmental body. the Finnish sem
ate. he made. with other proposals.
one for q reform Of the system Of pop
ular education. Among the schemes for
the future school system which were
evolved at the instance of the senate,
that Of Uno Cygnaeus was espec ally
remarkable for it's profundity. matu-
rity and the comprehension of the true
needs Of the future citizens. He ex-
pressed the opinion that the learning
Of certain books mattered very little,
but that the highest importance should
In ~ MORAL and Yhv9iral
development Of the young.
Education. he said. should above all
open the eyes of the child to the adj
herence to fixed laws in nature, to the
history. and to the love Of God in man.
When he appended to his scheme q
proposal to send a delegate abroad to
make himself acquainted with the ma
tional school systems Of the different
nations he was himself appointed to
execute the commission. in the course
Of which he visited most Of the central
European countries.
Lack Of Liberal Spirit Noted.
In the German national schools he found
admirable orderliness. rigid discipline.
perfect organisation, but not the liberal
spirit which is able to train up indie
pendent. thoughtful citizens. Besides
this he objected strongly to the system
by which the education Of girls was in
trusted to male teachers. Further phys
ical exercises and technical instruction
did not at that time occupy the position
In the German school system which they
now hold. In Switzerland. Pestalozzi's
native country. he found the schools and
teachers colleges which pleased him
most, and these served in many cases as
model for the establishments which
were subsequently Instituted in Finland.
The first Finnish teachers college was
opened In 1863 In the town Of Jyvaskyla,
and Uno Cygnaeus was its director until
1859, from which year he was OBLIGED to
devote himself entirely to his duties as
chief inspector of the national schools Of
Finland. In 1857. when a terrible famine
and epidemic visited the land, the first
lighfenment among a starving populace.
Now the number OF teachers Is roughly
1900 and the number Of pupils $50, 600
an average Of thirty three pupils to every
teacher.
Attendance Not Compulsory.
Attendance at the Finnish national
schools Is not yet compulsory. but the
majority Of the parents, especially in the
towns. none the less send their children
to school at the age Of seven, which has
been fixed as the age in Finland. In the
country the thin population Of the dis
lr1CIS anu tH0 IUuS UIStdHCcS " Uc CIV
cred make it much harder for all the
children to attend the national schools,
but Of late q vigorous movement - being
universally carried on with the object OF
establishing q sufficient number Of schools
and assisting the poorer communities with
loans.
I'm the larger towns the school buildings.
constructed Of stone, are fine houses with
spacious classrooms and large apart
ments for gymnastics. singing and draw
ing; in the country in in the smaller
towns they are mostly made Of wood. but
nevertheless roomy, with large courts
planted with trees.