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356 A History of Sweden
But there is a blessing with money thus spent. The
aged, worn-out toilers need not suffer the humiliation
of being treated as objects of charity. Those who in
their days of strength have faithfully striven to do
their part deserve a respectable living when no longer
able to work.
CHAPTER XXII
EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS
A. THE SCHOOLS
Early Attempts at Child Instruction. Ever since the
time of Charles XI the church law prescribed that the
parish clerk should teach the children of the parish to
read. But how this order was to be carried out in the
large and sparsely peopled parishes was another ques-
tion. Children might have a desire to learn and good
ability for it, but of what avail was it when no schools
existed in rural districts? It often happened that some
old inebriate soldier or other impoverished fellow went
about the parish and taught the children in the home
for his food and shelter and occasionally a few coins.
Such instruction was of course of the crudest kind..
But it was something. Many children did not even get
that much. Hence, there were many people who could
neither read nor write. Only in the cities were schools
more regularly established.
Establishment of Public Schools. In 1842 the Riks.-
dag decided that there should be at least one public
school established in each parish, and attendance was
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