22 Middle- Class Education. 



"courses of study," and "examinations to be passed," are all 

 fixed by Government. In these schools the requirements of the 

 middle classes are amply satisfied. 



In Prussia we shall find a very superior order of things. 

 Here again the agricultural element forms a very large portion 

 of the population ; out of 18,500,000 of inhabitants, about 

 8,500,000 being employed in agriculture as their sole or chief 

 occupation. 



There is not only a Minister of Public Instruction, but also 

 a Minister of Agriculture. 



The educational system is the most complete in Europe ; 

 education is compulsory on all classes from the ages of six to 

 fourteen. Every parent being compelled to give satisfactory 

 proof that, if his child does not attend one of the state schools, 

 he is receiving a proper education either at home or in some 

 private seminary. 



In every province the public schools are under the superin- 

 tendence of a board of education appointed by Government. 



In 1861, according to the official returns, there were 23,859 

 Protestants, and 9895 Roman Catholic elementary schools. 



The number of children between six and fourteen amounted 

 to more than 3,500,000, and of these nearly 3,000,000 attended 

 the public schools. In the same year there were gymnasia, or 

 higher schools, with 39,737 pupils, and 1823 professors and 

 teachers. 



In all these schools, the fees for education are exceedingly 

 moderate, and the children of all who are unable to pay these, 

 are instructed gratuitously at the expense of the State. 



Such is the provision made for middle class education in the 

 five great powers of Europe. 



As to the other countries, we find that. 



In Denmark, there is a Minister of Instruction and Eccle- 

 siastical Affairs. Education is also compulsory from the age of 

 seven to fourteen ; there are 4000 parochial schools with gratuitous 

 education, and all the considerable towns have their normal 

 schools, academies, and grammar schools. 



In Belgium there is no Minister of Instruction. Education, 

 which under the Dutch Government was compulsory on all 

 classes, ceased to be so after the revolution of 1830. About 

 9000 persons, however, seem now to be employed in public 

 instruction. 



In the Netherlands the Minister of the Interior superintends the 

 public education. There are dependent on him an Inspector- 

 General, with a staff of 70 school inspectors, whose duty it is to 

 inspect the public schools, of which there were, in 1857, 2478. 



