Prussia and the German System of Education. 



A I' MINISTRATION OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 



The administration of Schools was centralized only 

 in the present century, by transferring it to the Ministry 

 of the Interior. Here it was placed under the imme- 

 diate direction of William Humboldt, as State Councillor. 

 Since 1817, Educational and Ecclesiastical matters have 

 formed a special Ministerial department. 



Under this Central Department, stand eight Provincial 

 Administrations, which recognize local and sectarian pe- 

 culiarities. In each province, a Deputation regulates all 

 the internal affairs of church and school ; determining the 

 general object of the educational institutions ; examining 

 their statutes and discipline ; proposing plans of improve- 

 ment and designating text-books ; supervising the higher 

 schools and appointing or removing teachers. The pro- 

 vincial boards manage the property of church and school 

 and regulate the elementary and primary departments of 

 the latter, and report to the minister six commissions, 

 distinct from these boards, examine teachers for the 

 higher schools, and revise the examinations for graduation. 

 Each commission has seven members ; one for each of the 

 following branches — Philology, History, Mathematics and 

 Physics, Science of Teaching, Theology, and Hebrew, 

 Natural Sciences, Modern Languages. 



J3y the Prussian constitution, all schools and universities 

 are declared Institutions of the State : they cannot be 

 established without the consent of the state and are 

 subject to its supervision ; they are open to all sects but 

 persons dis-eming from their religious system are not re- 

 quired to attend the religious instruction : school and 

 Gymnasia for the higher sciences and the arts and*rades, 

 enjoy the same powers as corporations and are controlled 

 immediately by the state authorities ; teachers not appointed 

 by persons or corporations, through legacy or special 



