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2 Beigabe zum Bericht des Grossnerzoglichen Nenen Gymnasiums 2u Darmstalt, Ir. 622.

Pllolbek se 1. eeene— Giessen. 1 English Schools.

Experiences and Impressions of English School-Lifegs — 4

By

Gymnasiallehrer Gustav Lenz.

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F or some time past a considerable number of German pedagogues, who are dissatisfied with the state of educational matters in their own country, have cast their eyes upon the scholastic arrangements abroad. The English scholastic institutions and methods— differing so widely from those of Germany— seem, more particularly, to have aroused their interest and have been the subject of considerable critical discussion and comparison, both favourable

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and otherwise. In 1889, the Subrector of the Realschule of Ratzeburg, Mr. H. Raydt, pub-

lished in book form the results of a journey, which he made in 1886, provided with a scholarship of the Bismarck-Schönhausen-Stiftung, for the purpose of studying English and Scotch Schools. The book, bearing the title„Ein gesunder Geist in einem gesunden Körper“, is written, in general, with an evidently great experience of English scholastic matters, the author show- ing a great enthusiasm for the educational influence of English pedagogy, and in compar- ing the two methods, our German system of education has been rather severely criticised. The author is deeply imbued with an infinite love for the German youth, whose welfare, above all, as well as that of the whole German nation, he has at heart. Comparing English

and German scholastic affairs, Mr. Raydt forgets, or perhaps underrates, one essen-

tial point, namely, that there are in England comparatively few establishments able to give an adequate educational training to the middle class— the heart of the nation. He remarks in his preface that he has visited most of the better English and Scotch Schools— the so- called Public Schools or Colleges, of which he counts in Great-Britain, in all, 33 establish- ments, as well as a good Scotch Private College, Blairlodge School. In these few 9ood Eng- lish Schools are educated only the sons of very rich parents or of those of high rank— mostly the sons of the aristocracy and gentry; hence these schools are only for the upper ten thou- sand. The Berlin Correspondent of the Dailf Telegraph writes in the number of October 15 h, 1889, in his critique on Mr. Raydt's book:„Another point he(Mr. Raydt) forgets when generalising, is that it is the sons of the wealthier and well-to-do classes who are exclusively educated in the best public schools of England, the philathletic institutions of which he so admires; whereas in Germany there are but few of these practically private and exclusive establishments— the great gymnasiums and scientific schools being open to all without distinction who pay the very moderate education fees“. The middle-class man cannot, as a rule, send his sons to college, the expenses at these schools being very great. indeed. Thus he is forced to send his sons to the Private Schools or Middle-class Schools, which are intended to fill up the large gap between the Elementary Schools and the Colleges.

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