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332
IV. EDUCATION AND MENTAL CULTURE IN SWEDEN.
Several of the private schools for girls have their own schoolbuildings, others
are compelled to employ ordinary dwelling-houses, which, especially from a sanitary
point of view, often leave much to be desired. The length of the ordinary
school-course varies, but is generally 7 to 8 years. The number of schools with seven
or with eight classes is about the same. Some few schools have only 5 or 6 classes.
Almost all schools have 2 or 3 preparatory classes, in which, with but few
exceptions, boys also are taught. About 20 schools have one or more continuation classes.
The subjects of instruction are chiefly the same as in the State Normal
School for Girls, one or more additional subjects being, however, introduced into
some schools. Thus, in a few, manual work comprises not only ordinary
needlework, but also wood-sloyd and cardboard-sloyd. A few schools give instruction in
the history of art to the highest class. Domestic economy is taught in 14 schools
to one or another of the regular school-classes, generally only to the highest.
Very varying is the position given to the different subjects, especially as regards
foreign languages. In most schools French is the fundamental language, in others
German. During the last few years though, there seems to be a tendency to make
the French and German languages change places, several schools having of låte made
German the fundamental language. English is usually the third language taught,
though in some schools it ranks second. Other subjects too, for instance
mathematics and natural science, are studied to a varying extent in different schools.
In most schools two of the foreign languages are optional, in some all three.
Pupils can generally be exempted also from a few other subjects, as for instance
geometry, singing, and drawing.
The continuation classes are formed for various purposes and therefore very
differently arranged, some being intended to prepare for university entrance or for
admission to the Higher Seminary for Lady-Teachers, others to train teachers, or
to give the pupils greater insight into various subjects. The university entrance
examination can be passed at 5 of the schools for girls (4 in Stockholm and 1 at
Malmö). The right of passing this examination was given to women in 1870.
At first only few availed themselves of this right, but during each of the last
three years the number has been 50 or more.
In most of the schools there are both men- and lady-teachers. The men,
who, with few exceptions, are teachers also in the state collegiate schools for
boys, give comparatively few lessons, and are paid per hour. The salaries paid
to lady-teachers are, as a rule, very low, especially considering the demands made
on them. On an average they do not exceed 1,000 kronor per annum; most
head-mistresses get but 1,200 to 1,500 kronor, besides residence and fuel.
A raising of the salaries has, however, in 1902 been decreed by the State as a
condition for the receiving of State grants. — There are two institutions for
pensioning lady-teachers. One, founded in 1855, is intended for such teachers
in general and supported chiefly by contributions from the teachers themselves.
The other, which was founded in 1886, exclusively for teachers in collegiate
schools for girls levies contributions partly from the teachers, partly from the
schools concerned. Small grants are also made by the State.
On the initiative of the Riksdag, the Government, in 1885, appointed a
committee to examine to what degree the girls’ schools needed and deserved further
support. This committee, the first official committee on which women were also
appointed, made a thorough investigation of the girls’ schools, demanding detailed
information from each of them and visiting a great number of them in different
parts of the kingdom. The above-mentioned increase of the grant to the girls’
schools may be considered as a result of the report of this committee. Yet,
notwithstanding this increase, the economical conditions of these schools must still
be considered as rather unsatisfactory.
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