The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-05-31
Alarming Number Of Self Destrue-
tions Among the Students Of
the Classes In
Berlin.
PARENTS ARE TO BLAME
overshudy and Exagseration Of the
Disgrace Of Failure Are
the Principal,
Causes.

Thy Karl n. Won Wiegsnd, Berlin
Correspondent of the United Press
BERLIN, May 3O-The end OF the
winter school term in Germany has
again been marked this spring with
the psychological problem and annual
manifestation which has confronted
school authorities and government fol
years-the inevitable epidemic OF sui
cides Of school children.
Again the stiff annual spring exam.
nations have literally proven the
.shari-kari" for boys nervously broken
down by overstudy under the tremen,
dous pressure OF the German school
system. These boys preferred death
to the reproaches Of father and moth
or and the gibes of their companions
because they failed.
Just how many families have dis.
covered too late that they we're driv.
ing their sons to death by their goad-
ing, their threats II they did not pass,
thsdr reproaches because they did not
learn faster. and daily upholding be
fore them that they would be the dis
grace OF their parents II they failed,
IS not yet known, as all the returns
are not all in. The number, however,
Is said to be in excess OF last spring.
In Berlin Hans Jirjahn. aged 1S.
failed to pass in high school and
promptly fired the contents of an
automatic pistol into his chest. The
same day the 15-yearold son OF q
printing house proprietor. threw him
self in front of train at the Janno-
witz station and was ground to death.
In the pocket OF his coat was found
. note. 1t read: Il failed. l cannot
90 home" That same afternoon the
body OF boy, aged II, son of clerk
in the city council, was f1shed out OF
the river Spree. He, too, had failed
In his examination.
In no country Is education the
gate" in fact the only entrance to
employment, occupations and profess
sions, as in Germany. Almost every
occupation or calling except mental
work. is barred to all excspt those
who have succeeded in obtaining the
one year certificate or diploma, which
entities the holder to serve but one
year in tbs army instead OF two and
to large extent practically deter
mines his social and economic
chances for the future.
The cause of the suiciues, which
some years have numbered as high
as fifty, are attributed by physicians
and authorities on the subject, to sew
eral causes. Chief among these are
overstudy. exaggeration of thu dis
grace Of failure in examinations, the
foolishness and lack OF consideration
on the part of parents in telling their
children that failure spells mental
and intellectual infsriority, and too
little attention paid to physical train
ing.
Privy Councillor Adolf Matthias. a
specialist on the subject, said that
suicides Of schools boys were fearful
Nv on the increase He considered
that the cause and fault was with
tha parents rather than with the
schools. One thing he said, which
teachers and parents often fail to
recognize and understand is that chi.
knowledge in school and in that re-
epect appear stupid, often are tn :
most sensitive and impressionable
and required delicate and sensible
handling. He added that these very
childr en- often prove most successful
later in life.
In Melli Neese, a handsome young
woman of 80, Germany has the only
woman in the world who conducts a
living school Germany now also has
the distinction of having the only fly
ing school in the world conducted by
a royal prince.
Prince Frederick Sigismund has
opsned a school of aviation at Dan
Wig for those who want to take W
diving as a sport. Herr Forssman, ar
engineer from the Johannistal avia
tiop n sid. has been engaged by thu
prince to take charge OF Theoretical
training in his school while he him
self. assisted by two teachers, viii
,nstruct in the practical side of tn
art OF flying.
Prime Frederick Sfgismun0 is al
enthusiastic aviator and aeroplan
constructor. Together with his chic
n,1ot Herr Stiefvattsr, one or th
nest nyers in Germany. the prince ha
b,,lt two large monoplanes whic
viii be used in the school. nun
oer OF army officers and others froI
high social circles have already ei
rolled as pupils.