DENMARK 



483 



to the butter-factories and centres of distribution. The associations then undertake to send it 

 to its destination. In this way the individual farmer is spared the waste of needless competition 

 and the cost of transit to the markets, while he is assured of a ready sale for his wares. The 

 expenses of distribution are borne entirely by the associations, which are naturally able to 

 export butter in large quantities to other countries in a more remunerative manner than 

 agriculturists acting independently. The profits are divided as a bonus among the farmers 

 who belong to these associations. So well has the system been found to work that it has 

 lately been introduced with no small success in Ireland. 



Education, on sound and sensible lines, supplements the work of the co-operative 

 associations. The folkehojskoler, or people's high schools, play an important part in preparing 

 the Dane for a life of intelligent industry. They are a sort of continuation schools in which 

 young people of both sexes who have passed through the elementary schools may receive 

 instruction throughout part of the year. The sessions are so arranged as not to interfere with 

 their wage-earning work. There are about eighty of these schools, attended by some 8,000 

 pupils. These are drawn from the lower 

 classes, and their ages vary from eighteen to 

 twenty-five and even more. History and 

 geography, physics and mechanics, and other 

 scientific subjects are taught in the high 

 schools. Technical instruction is given, and 

 every effort made to equip the scholar for the 

 path he has chosen in life. He may, for 

 example, learn much of the science of farming 

 in the butter-factory attached to the school. 

 Since the peasant does not, as a rule, seek 

 to leave the class in which he is born, his 

 education is a practical advantage, placing 

 him in the front rank of European agri- 

 culturists. The course of training undergone 

 in these schools generally lasts for two sessions, 

 at a total cost to the pupil of 24. This 

 sum covers all his expenses of living as well 

 as instruction. A small subsidy from the State 

 enables these institutions to offer this educa- 

 tion at such a moderate figure. 



Throughout the country education, even 

 in the schools of the higher class, is remark- 

 able for its cheapness no less than its efficiency. 

 This is largely on account of the State aid 

 which it receives. Beyond a few of the 

 private institutions, the only schools which 

 are without assistance from the Government 

 are the friskoler, or free schools. These are 

 so called because the parents are allowed to 

 choose the subjects and course of teaching 

 the pupils are to have. The Danish nation 

 is convinced of the value of good training 

 for its youth. Every child, no matter what 

 its social position may be, is thus given an 

 opportunity of growing up to be an intelli- 

 gent and capable member of its class, whether Pholo by soiceig Lund. 

 artisan, agricultural, or gentle. Taken in the A DANISH FISHER-GIRL. 



