6o8 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



in the university sphere depended upon the establishment of girls' 

 schools which would lead to exactly the same goal as the Gymnasium 

 for boys. This was at last accomplished by the splendid organization 

 of girls' instruction of three years ago. 



Prussia has now four types of higher schools for girls, each of which 

 may be divided into various independent departments. In the center 

 stands the upper girls' school, a somewhat revised edition of the tra- 

 ditional German school for girls. There are ten classes which are 

 usually passed through in the period from the sixth to the sixteenth 

 year. The first three classes are preparatory, with eight to ten hours 

 a week instruction in the mother tongue, three hours arithmetic every 

 week, two to three hours writing, two hours needlework, three hours of 

 religion, which is an organic part of every German school, two half 

 hours of singing, two half hours of gymnastics and some drawing as 

 well. In the seven upper classes the German language takes six, five 

 and finally four hours a week, and French exactly the same number, 

 altogether thirty-two hours each in those seven years. English is taught 

 in the four upper classes only four hours a week, mathematics three 

 hours a week throughout, geography two hours through the seven years, 

 natural history two hours, religion two hours, drawing two hours, sing- 

 ing two hours, gymnastic two hours, needlework two hours, but this is 

 no longer obligatory in the four upper classes. Those who have passed 

 through this ten years' course may enter either the so-called Frauen- 

 schule or the Seminary or the Studienanstalt. The first is planned to 

 complete the education of a young woman who seeks a higher training 

 without any professional aim. It is adjusted to the needs of women 

 who are to play an intelligent role, not only in the home, but also in 

 social life. It is in no way a finishing school for one who aims to shine 

 in society, but meant for those who really want to serve. It is usually a 

 course of two years in which pedagogy, household economy, kinder- 

 garten work, hygiene, political economy, civics, bookkeeping and needle- 

 work stand in the foreground, while modern languages, history, litera- 

 ture, natural science, art, drawing and music are relegated to the 

 position of minor electives. The Seminary, on the other hand, is meant 

 for those who aim to become teachers of the lower schools. It demands 

 three years' scholarly work and one year of practical training in schools. 

 In those three years of theoretical study, French, English and mathe- 

 matics take four hours a week each year, German, natural science and 

 religion three hours a week, pedagogy, history and geography two 

 hours. In their fourth year, the practical term, the candidates study 

 pedagogy and methods of teaching seven hours, eight hours a week 

 thesis writing, six hours training in practical class work and six hours 

 training in the practical methods of the various subjects, including 

 laboratory experiments. In addition to all this, through the four years 



