The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1914-03-26
EDUCATIONAL.
(BY G. w. MEIsNEST.)
JBLIC EDUCATION IN GER.

otateS WOuld not be amlSS at tnlS tlme
when we are taking up SO many of the
new things which tend toward improve
ment of present day conditions. Many
OF the newer ideas introduced into our
public schools have already been a
part of the school system of Germany.
One great difference is in the distri-
button of authority between the people
on the one hand and the government on
the other. In the United States the
schools are in n much higher degree
the affairs of the people than in Ger
many, where the citizens of commu-
nifty have little or nothing to say about
their school system. Local school
board members in Germany are more
often appointed because of their politi-
Ca! affiliations than because of their
ability to manage school affairs. The
people must in general accept the edu-
cational program outlined by the gov
ernment.
The average man in America is much
more interested in the affairs of the
public school, One important factor
which brings this about is that school
meetings are public and every citizen
may take part in the affairs. In Ger
many it is not so.
II the teaching force, however, Ger
many probably has a distinct advan-
tage over the United States. Teachers
are more independent. They are en-
ployed for life and the privilege of re-
tirement assured the teacher in all the
German states from the beginning of
his service. In general, the German
teacher can not be deprived of his posi-
tion and livelihood as long as he full
fills his duty and is guilty of no infrac.
tion of law. AS tenure of Office of
teacher may be favorable to efficient
teaching 1t does not necessarily follow
that all teachers of Germany are good.
There are many poor ones and the peo-
pie have no recourse unless there be
some serious infraction of the law
There is therefore a grerterstability
in the teaching force in Germany than
in the United States. If he gets sick
he continues to draw his salary from
the beginning CT his employment,
either full or in part. If he grows
old and can no longer render service
with full strength then goodsized
pension, generally 10 or S5 per cent of
his regular salary, relieves him of the
fear of having to spend his old age in
poverty. Whether he is liked or not
in . community has little to do with
his service in the district. Such sys-
TEN in democratic Wisconsin would
not be welcomed. The people have a
right to be heard on school matters as
well as on others. He does not in
Germany have to fear his superiors, or
use up his strength to exhaustion from
fear he may lose his position. Greater
tenure in position has however been
given to teachers in many places in
the United States.
In Germany the schools are general
ly denominated. Every public school
in Germany must give instruction in
religion for two to five hours every
week. School supervision is often as
signed to local pastor whether he is
equipped for it or not. In the United
States the matter Of local supervision
is delegated to a trained schoClman
The school is often the object of cleri-
cal political struggle. While the
school in Wisconsin is also often the
object OF political struggle, there has
thus far at least been no religious SUI
premacy. DR.. Kerschensteiner in ma
king an extended study Of the two
school systems is of the opinion that
after considering both carefully the ell
ementry school system at least, in the
United States is far superior to that of
Germany.
In Germany the teaching is largely
co-educational after the fourth or fifth
year. The first four years boys and
girls are taught together. After that
time the boys and girls do not min.
gle with each other in their classes.
In some Of the smaller and one depart
ment schools however the pupils are
not separated until the eighth year.
DR.. Kerschensteiner considers co.edu-
cation weak feature Of the German
schools.
The common school in Germany as
in the United States covers Neriod of
eight or nine years. Yet eight years
or nine years of schooling in Germany
means much more than eight years in
the United States. There education Is
compulsory for ten months Of the year
while in the United States the length
Of the school year falls as low as eight
six or even five months. In the period
covered by the common school in the
United States full year and often two
years is lost by irregular attendance.
The German high school and college
Is probably the strongest part of hel
system. Possibly for longer time ir
the past has Germany stood for strong
Industrial work in her schools while W,
are but be ginning in the United States
cuhict Art