E.~12

GERMANY.

General Features. In secondary schools in Prussia the hours in the morning are the same; and study is continued on some days in the afternoon. But it is intended to abolish afternoon lessons; because air in the school-rooms is deemed to be not good for health then, and distances which pupils have to travel arc often long. In Prussia the holidays generally consist of two weeks at Christmas, two weeks at Easter, half a week at Whitsuntide, four weeks at Midsummer, a few days at Michaelmas, and single days on the occasions of the anniversary of the battle of Sedan, and of the birthday of the Emperor, and on two religious days. Where there is afternoon study there is a half holiday on Saturdays and Wednesdays. 1 Children arc duly protected against injurious (including premature) employment. 2 There is no regulation, other than those relating to compulsory attendance, which defines school age, or limits attendance. But, of course, there are certain ages when it is considered that pupils should attend a certain grade of school or learn certain subjects, 3 and the gradation of tuition is considered to be excellent. For instance, in Berlin the usual rule is—(«) infant school from the age of two to six ; (b) preparatory Gymnasium, six to nine ; (c) Gymnasium course—with Latin from nine, with French from 10, with Greek from 13, with Hebrew 4 from 15 and 16 ; and thence to university. 5 In Real Schools the same ages apply, substituting English, and stress on mathematics and natural science for Greek and Hebrew. In many State Gymnasia, for instance, throughout Prussia and in Leipsic, the course is for nine years preparatory for the university, which pupils usually enter at the age of 19 or 20; but they must pass the final examination at the Gymnasium before entering the university. (2.) Religious instruction is given in secondary as well as primary schools. To show further how essential it is considered it is laid down, as affecting Saxony at least —" The Volksschulc has for its object the religious training as one part of universal human education." 0 Such instruction is given as the local managers of a school (who represent the inhabitants of a district or parish) decide, whether they be Protestant or Roman Catholic ; 7 with, however, liberty for those non-concurring to retain their children from school during the period of religious instruction. (3.) Elementary education is not gratuitous, as a rule, 8 except for those who cannot afford to pay for it ;' J and in secondary schools instruction is not, as a rule, given free of

Holidays.

School age.

Further information respecting religious instruction.

" I should think that, on the whole, they have about as many hours' schooling in Germany or France as in England.—Mr. M. Arnold, 8.E.0., 5995 and set}., 5996 and 6284. " Hitzferien, or heat holidays, . . . are now established . . . in Germany and Switzerland. When the thermometer reaches a certain point lessons must cease throughout Prussia. The observance of this regulation is compulsory in all private as well as in public schools." i See also Mr. M. Arnold's (May, 1886) rept., p. 11; and on holydays, p. 23. 3 In Prussia, for instance, industrial work for wages prohibited under the age of nine ; in Baden it is eleven ; and so forth. 3 See Offic. Publications, also espec. R.C., vol. 1., pp. 21, 22, 92, 102, 115, 116, and 524. 4 Hebrew, however, is not obligatory. 6 See also Mr. M. Arnold's (May, 18S6) rept., p. 11. 6 See Mr. Bashford's book, p. 6; and Mr. M. Arnold's (May, 1886) rept. pp. 12 and 14. ' Sometimes, however, when the numbers warrant it, schools for a particular creed are officially established. In Berlin, when needed, Catholic schools are established by the magistracy, and note provisions already remarked respecting Jewish teachers of religion. See also Mr. M. Arnold's (May, 1886) rept., p. 8. So in Canada, " in districts where the inhabitants arc divided in their religious opinions, and mixed schools are not possible, the law enables separate ones to bo provided."—See Mr. Colmer's paper in tho Colonies and India, 15 Jan., 1886. Note also latest Manitoba report (herewith). 8 Note remarks by Dr. Rigg at 1.E.C., "In Germany in the year of revolutions, 1848, free education was introduced ; but after a short trial it was found to work badly, and was given up," &c, vol. 16, p. 183. B—E. 12.

—-—: i Munich and Nuremberg (Bavaria) have now abolished fees. " Before the change Nuremberg had three classes of popular schools —schools in which all the scholars paid, schools in which a part of them paid, schools in which none paid. The schools in which all paid were, the burghermaster said, undeniably much the best; the schools in which a part paid were the next best; the free schools were the worst."—Mr. M. Arnold's (May, 1886) rcpt., p. 0; and see p. 4; also " Saturday Review," 1 Aug., 1886, " Elementary Education on the Continent " ; and R.E.C., Mr. M. Arnold, 6301. " The school fees are regularly paid, except in a few places. In Berlin they dropped tho fees, it is said, because they found the extreme difficulty of levying them."—Mr. M. Arnold, R.E.C., 531'J. But see further reasons in different places, 5495 and seq., and 63u1. Twopence was the average weekly fee, 5320. 0 For instance, not gratuitous, as a rule, in Saxony or Bavaria, nor by any means throughout Prussia, although it is so in Berlin. Where primary schools are not free, free instruction for poor children is usually provided by means of schools for themselves. Note scale of fees and rule touching exemptions in Saxony in Mr. Bashford's book, pp. 18, 19. See also Mr. M. Arnold's (May, 1886) rept., pp. 5 and 6 ; and R.E.C., Mr. M. Arnold, 5186 and seq. "Indeed, as to Prussia, Saxony, and Bavaria . . . payment is the rule, free schooling the exception. This I say is the general rule in Germany—a school fee charged where the scholar can afford to pay for it, remitted when ho cannot." —Mr. M. Arnold's (May, 1886) rept., p. 5. For farther information see espec. pp. 4^7. For process of remitting foes in cases of poverty see R.E.C., Mr. M. Arnold, 5448. For statistics respecting free education and size of classes see " Journal of Ed.," Oct., 18S6, p. 414.

Elementary education not generally gratuitous, and

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