SYSTEMS OF EDUCATION

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15335, 20 July 1915, Page 2

SYSTEMS OF EDUCATION

TO THE -EDITOR OT "THE PRESS." Sir, —In view of the suggestion made by Mr Howard. Tripp in your issue of to-day that mathematics and natural science are not sufficiently studied in British, a* compared with German and American schools, the following summary of tho "Lehrplan'' or hours devoted to various subjects in tho Prussian "Realgymnasien," may be of interest. Tho official definition of a "Realgymnasien" is as follows: —"Tho aim of tho Roalgymnasien. as of the humanistic gymnasien, is to give tho youth a liberal education, founded, however, especially en instruction in the modem languages, mathematics, and the natural sciences." As compared with the "Gymnasien," English takes tho place of Greek, and more timo is devoted to French and the natural sciences: — Total weok hours for Subjects. nine forms. Religion ••■ _•• 19 German and History stones 28 Latin -•• ••• & French ••• -•- *-*l (Not taught in the two lowest forms.) Enrrlish ••• ••• 18 (Not taught in the two { lowest forms.) History, Geography ... 28 I Mathematics ... ... 42 | Natural History ... --- 1" (Not taught in tho three highest forms.) Physics ••• ••• l-*"" (Not taught in tho four lowest forms.) , Chemistry ... •-• <" (Not taught in the five lowest forms.) J[i**eralo_y -•• •-• 6 (Not taught in tho five lowest forms.) Writing •■• -•• 4 (Taucht in the two lowest forms only.) Drawing •'•■ ••• I*> Sin<--ing '•-• ■•• ** (Tan-Tit in the two lowest form-? only.) Gymnastics ... •■- 27 Ati American writer, commenting on this "Lehrplan,"' says:—"This curriculum is of special interest to Americans, inasmuch as it more nearly corresponds to the course of 6tudy of the American High School." The "Lehrplan" given above is taken from a book written in 1899, but judging from two German schools which T visited in 1911. the course is substantially tho same. —Yours, etc.. T O. V.. BT.TJNT. j Canterbury College. July 19th.