EDUCATION IN THE SWISS CANTON BASEL-STADT. 



By A. M. RoBB, M.A. 



In Switzerland each Canton arranges its school system ac- 

 cording" to its special circumstances and needs. While the 

 Bimd Constitution requires the various Cantons to see that 

 the education provided is satisfactory and free, it in no wise 

 interferes in the matter of school government. 



The Canton Basel-Stadt consists of the town of Basel and 

 two small country districts, with a population of nearly 

 126,000. About 24,000 pupils are in attendance at the various 

 schools in the Canton. The school system of the Canton 

 embraces all grades of instruction from Kindergarten schools 

 to the University. 



Principal resolutions of the School Law. — According to the 

 School Law every normal child in the Canton must attend 

 school for eight years from the age of six. Apart from the 

 University all education is free. During the eight compulsory 

 years all writing and drawing material, and all printed educa- 

 tional matter is free. In this respect Basel goes farther than 

 any other Canton, giving books free not only in the Volks- 

 schulen but also in the lower divisions of the Higher Schools. 



During the first six school years, religious instruction is 

 g'iven by flie teachers and is undenominational. After that 

 time it is given by the clergymen on an understanding arrived 

 at between the Director of Education and the church authori- 

 ties. Religious instruction is not compulsory. Private educa- 

 tion is allowed, but the teachers in private schools must be 

 fully qualified and recognised by the State. 



KleinkinderscJiulen. — Although compulsory education com- 

 mences when a child is six years of age, " Kleinkinderschulen " 

 (little children's schools) receiye children of 4-6 years for occu- 

 pation suitable to their age, such as story-telling, looking at 

 pictures and conversing" about them, playing" with dolls, etc., 

 paper folding", little recitations and songs, etc. It would not 

 be correct to call these Kindergarten Schools. There are 

 about 100 of these schools, which are attended by the children 

 of the poorer and lower-middle classes, who are allowed to 

 speak Basel German, a kind of Low German, and are taught 

 in the same. All these schools are under the supervision of a 

 lady inspector, who is consulted by parents wishing" to send 

 children to one of them, and who decides which school a child 

 shall attend. 



Primary Schools. — The first four school years are passed 

 in the Primary Schools, in which, as in other schools, apart 

 from the country districts, boys and girls are taught separately. 

 In the town there are 12 Primary Schools for boys and 10 for 

 girls. From 7 to 17 teachers are employed in each and they 

 have no principals. For their conduct and control two inspec- 

 tors are appointed, one for the bovs' schools and the other 



