20 REPORT OF THE SCOTTISH COMMISSION 



the purpose of granting Scholarships in a High School for the 

 education of deserving persons, and to this rate is added an 

 equivalent grant from the State. A candidate who is granted a 

 scholarship is not confined to one of the schools in his own 

 county, but has the right of choice to attend any one of the High 

 Schools in the country. 



The idea of the founder was that all classes of society should 

 mix at those schools, but they were at first mainly taken advantage 

 of by the sons and daughters of the peasantry. Attendance at 

 them has now, however, become somewhat fashionable, and at 

 Askov were found many daughters of merchants and professional 

 men from Copenhagen. 



Although Denmark has become rich by producing butter, 

 bacon and eggs, these schools do not teach how to make butter, 

 to cure bacon, or to cultivate the land ; their main object is to 

 develop personal character, and to make the young men and 

 women true and honest Danes. Stated more specifically their 

 aims are: (1) to foster love of country and national feeling; 

 (2) to educate the people to make proper use of the free con- 

 stitution obtained in the year 1849 ; and (3) to prepare the young 

 so as to give them a better chance in the fight for existence as it 

 is now raging in all trades, and not least in agriculture ; the whole 

 school life being at the same time under moral and religious 

 governance. 



The ideal of the High School demands a close sympathy 

 between the teacher and his pupils. The teacher's personality 

 is of more importance than anything else. " On that very point 

 where the ability of the teacher meets with the wants of the pupils 

 there exactly lies the task of the school." 



Hence great importance is attached to the " living word," and 

 much of the instruction is given by means of lectures, the chief 

 subjects being history and literature, while in some of the schools 

 languages (English and German) are taught. To each of the 

 schools is attached a well equipped gymnasium ; and each lesson 

 is opened and closed by the singing of a national song or hymn. 

 No day students are admitted ; all the pupils are boarders, and 

 daily association in a cultured and humanising environment is 

 regarded as an essential part of the system. On Sundays the 

 homes of the teachers are open to the students. 



The Scottish Commission visited the High Schools at Lyngby 

 and Askov, and had the privilege of hearing their objects described 

 at the former by Mr La Cour, and at the latter by Mr Appel. At 

 both schools national part songs were rendered by the young women 

 attending the courses. At Askov a class of over eighty young 

 women students went through a long and beautiful series of evolu- 

 tions and gymnastic exercises under the direction of Mrs Appel, 

 the talented instructress. Obviously in these schools the conception 

 of the healthy mind in the healthy body is faithfully striven after. 



The following is the time-table for the first year's course for 

 men at Askov, and for women at Odder. 



