290 EDUCATION IN A SWISS CANTON. 



pupils a general " modern " training" and prepare them for 

 higher posts in commercial and industrial pursuits. The Upper 

 Realschule is especially a preparatory school for higher techni- 

 cal, mathematical and natural science studies. The maximum 

 number of pupils in Lower School classes is 45, and in the 

 Upper 30. 



The Lower Realschule prepares pupils for the Upper. It 

 has four classes with a one year's course in each. The course 

 of instruction differs little from that of the Boys' Secondary 

 Schools except that more time is given to mathematics and 

 physics, and English is commenced in the last year. 



The Upper Realschule is divided into a Real or modern and 

 a Handelsabteiling or Commercial side, the former compris- 

 ing a 4^ years' course, the latter 4 years. The Real division 

 finishes with a matriculation examination, the Commercial with 

 a diploma. Success in the former qualifies for entrance to the 

 Polytechnic at Zurich, as well as to the Mathematical and 

 Science courses of the Basel University, the most of the 

 matriculated students proceeding to the latter. 



In this Upper School, the provision made for practical w^ork 

 in science was very poor. There was no physical laboratory 

 for pupils and one small chemical laboratory capable of accom- 

 modating 16 boys at a time. There was much costly apparatus 

 in glass cases which was used only by the teachers in their 

 demonstration lessons. The Rector, however, recognised the 

 need for more practical work. The Commercial courses are 

 very thorough, including Political Economy, Commercial Law. 

 Business Organisation, etc., and four modern languages — 

 German, French. English, Italian. 



Lozver and Upper Gymnasium. — The Lower and the Upper 

 Gymnasium, the former with about 450 pupils and the latter 

 170, are combined under one Rector. Each consists of a 4- 

 year course. The Gymnasium is intended to give its pupils a 

 general classical training and to prepare them for academic 

 studies. Out of 32 periods per week, 14 are devoted to the 

 study of Latin and Greek. The numbers in the school are 

 decreasing, the Rector's explanation being that the Realschule 

 is preferred as more English is taught there. It was his in- 

 tention to introduce full English courses at once if they were 

 authorised. It may be mentioned here that the Rector of the 

 LTpper Realschule wanted optional courses in Latin, which 

 would qualify his matriculated pupils for entrance to the Facul- 

 ties of Philosophy, Medicine, and even Law at the University. 



Tocliterschulc. — The Lower Tochterschule admits those 

 girls whose education is to be more prolonged and comprehen- 

 sive. It consists of four classes, each a one-year's course. 

 The Upper Tochterschule has two classes. The maximum 

 number of pupils in one class must not exceed 45 in the Lower 

 and 30 in the Upper School. To the two-years' course of the 

 Upper School several " Fortbildungsklassen " (continuation 

 classes) are joined. Of these one lasts only a year and prepares 

 women teachers for the Kindergarten Schools. Four others 

 consist each of a three-years' course, namely, a general course. 



