CRUSHED BY EXAMINATIONS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 151, 27 June 1914, Page 12

CRUSHED BY EXAMINATIONS.

The recent examinations at the German schools were again, as each year, accompanied with numerous instances of boys killing themselves, either through fear that they would not pass or because of mortification ,at failures. On a single day three suicides of students, all less than eighteen years old. were reported, and the body of one who had drowned himself some days earlier was recovered These instances wore in Greatci Berlin alone. One of the boys threw himself in front of a train because he had not been promoted to a higher ola&s. The fixed bureaucratic scheme of life for the average German, while not explaining bucli Biiicides, throws some light on the youths' actiohs. Failure to be graduated fiom school is ft very serious thing. To become a public official is the goal of a great percentage of yoting Germans, for the official enjoys many privileges not granted to the nonofficial German. But for those who have failed in their school work there is uo chance to become State officials. Even in private life they find it almost impossible to secure responsible positions with mercantile firms, and > they are, of eoursv, debarred fronl entering the k&rned professions.