31 



The subjects taught in the school at Hvilan, as reported by Mr. J. V. 

 Jonsson, head master of the people's high school at Kafvesta, are: 



Swedit^h, 120 hour^; Scandinavian history, 80 hours; general history and geog- 

 raphy, 100 hours; history of literature, 40 hours; national economy, 20 hours; politi- 

 cal and municipal science, 50 hours; physics, botany, zoology, and geology, 45 hours; 

 agricultural chemistry, 50 hours; anatomy and hygiene, 10 hours; geometry, 20 hours; 

 arithmetic, 100 hours; bookkeeping and practical training, 70 hours; drawing and 

 architecture, 90 hours, and gymnastics, 100 hours. 



The course, it will be seen, is constructed with a view to affording 

 information upon such topics as enter into a general education. 



It was found after several jears of trial that the pupils who entered 

 the people's high schools were for the most part sons of farmers and 

 were themselves farmers. It soon Ixn-ame evident not only that one 

 winter was too short a period in which to give the training needed by 

 these young men, but also that a more technical course of study was 

 needed to e([uip them for their work. Accordingly, in 1882 a conuuis- 

 sion Avas appointed l>y the King to prepare a scheme for the organiza- 

 tion of agricultural instruction in the Kingdom, which resulted in the 

 establishment of a second class of schools, called high schools for 

 peasants. These sch.ools were intended to give theoretical instruction 

 in agriculture to young men over 18 years of age who have gone 

 through the i)eo[)lc's high school. For admission to this school they 

 must also have prosecuted farming for at least one j^ear. 



The high schools for peasants are with a few exceptions annexed to 

 the people's high schools, and are under the innnediate control of the 

 agricultural department. They are aided by th(> State, but arc recpiired 

 at the same time to provide an equal sum from fees and other local 

 sources. The course extends over a period of 20 months. 



The practical training of the students is usually accomplished 

 through the school authorities finding positions for them as laboring 

 pupils on some large estate, the proprietor supplying them with board 

 and lodging and a small compensation for clothes. Sometimes they 

 secure positions as under stewards on plantations. 



The courses of stud}- in these schools are chiefly agricultural. The 

 subjects given in one at Kafves-ta in 1903 were: 



Physics, 24 hours; chemistry, 38 hours; botany, 29 hours; zoology, 26 hours; 

 geology, 40 hours; science of agricultural practice, 84 hours; agricultural economy, 

 12 hours; care of domestic animals, 51 hours; veterinary science, 17 hours; dairying, 

 10 hours; forestry, 8 hours; building construction, 8 hours; geometrical drawing, 58 

 hours; surveying, 71 hours; geometry, 20 hours; arithmetic, 60 hours; Swedish, 60 

 hours; municipal expenses, 19 hours; composition, 30 hours; debates, 36 hours; 

 bookkeeping, 60 hours; singing, 40 hours, and gymnastics, 70 hours; making a total 

 of 871 hours. 



These schools, first established in 1886, have increased until in 1903 

 they numbered 239. There are 30 districts in Sweden. In all but seven 



