type of school for which he is preparing. It is now proposed to make the intermediate course an additional class of the Bürgerschule.

There are three general types of secondary schools: (a) The Gymnasium; (b) the Realschule; and (c) the Realgymnasium. The first has a course of eight, the second of seven, and the third of eight years, thus differing from the custom in Germany. The minimum age for admission to the Gymnasium is 10 years, so that the first year in the Austrian Gymnasium corresponds to the second year in the German Gymnasium, and four years of preliminary work are required for entrance. The average age at entrance is 10 to 11 years.

The Gymnasium offers the traditional classical course and prepares the pupil for entering any university. In the Gymnasium more than 50 per cent of the school time is devoted to the study of Latin, Greek, history, and the mother tongue. About 25 per cent of the time is devoted to mathematics, the history of Austria, geography, physics, and chemistry. Latin and Greek are emphasized.

The Realschule attempts to furnish a thorough knowledge of the modern subjects, with special attention to the sciences. In these schools the pupil is prepared for the study of more advanced natural science and mathematics; no attempt is made to prepare him for any particular vocation.

The course in the Realgymnasium is intended for those who wish some secondary education but do not expect to enter a university or a higher technical school. A graduate of the Realgymnasium may enter certain classes of the Gymnasium or of the Realschule.

A type of secondary school called the Reform Gymnasium, standing intermediate in courses offered between the classical Gymnasium and the Realschule, was organized in 1908. It has an eight-year course. The four lower classes are identical with the corresponding classes of the Realschule. In the four upper classes Latin, a modern language, and free-hand drawing are required; in other respects the course is like the upper grades of the Gymnasium. Greek is not taught in the Reform Gymnasium.

The primary school in Belgium comprises the first six school years. To be admitted, a pupil must have passed the sixth year of his age by October of the year he enters school and must be less than 14 years of age.

The law provides that at least one primary school must be maintained in, each commune. Children of indigent parents must be taught gratuitously. There are now more than 7,000 primary schools under State supervision. About one-third of the number are coeducational.

The King appoints an inspector for the primary schools of each of the Provinces of the country. The primary schools are usually divided into three subdivisions: (a) The elementary, (b) intermediate, (c) superior, each of which comprises two years. The primary schools are under the control of the commune, but the State reserves the right of inspection. After completing the prescribed work of the primary schoolthat is, at about the age of 12, a pupil may enter either the middle school or the Athénée Royal. The lowest class in each of these schools corresponds, therefore, to our seventh grade.

The course in the middle schools is three years in length, corresponding to our seventh, eighth, and ninth grades. These schools were created to meet the needs of the higher artisan and the commercial classes, and emphasis is placed upon immediate utility. The diploma is valuable in many business pursuits. Attendance at the middle school is compulsory for all who expect to take a Government position. Pupils leaving these schools are qualified for the lower public positions and for positions in commercial, industrial, and mechanical arts. The usual age of admission to the middle school is 12 years. The pupil must pass an examination before he is admitted. The middle schools, like the primary schools, are under the control of the commune, but the State exercises the right of inspection. A pupil who has completed the course in the middle schools, and who desires to prepare for the university, may enter the fourth from the upper class in the Athénée. There are now about 80 middle schools for boys and 40 for girls.

The Athénées Royaux are the official schools of higher grade, and they have a course seven years in length. They are usually for boys only. To be admitted to the lowest class of these schools a pupil must be at least 11 years of age and must pass an entrance examination. In general, however, the lowest class corresponds to our seventh grade, the age of the pupil being about 12 years. The boy leaves at about the age of 19, after 13 years in school. These institutions are supported by the State and are independent of the commune. They correspond rather closely, in some respects, to the secondary schools of the United States.

There are three kinds of Athénées Royaux: (a) The humanistic, with seven years of Latin and five years of Greek; (b) the Latin humanities, with seven years of Latin and no Greek, but with an extensive course in mathematics; (c) the modern humanities with seven years devoted to a modern language. The course in the modern humanities, is frequently divided into two sections in the three upper classes. These sections are (a) scientific and (b) commercial.

Pupils who complete any of the three courses in the Athénée Royal and pass a final examination receive a diploma which admits them to the university. Graduates of the classical course are admitted to any faculty in any of the universities. Graduates of the Latin-scientific course are admitted to the higher schools of mining, engineering, and manufacturing. Graduates of the modern humanities are admitted to the commercial and consular sections in the Universities of Ghent and Liege.

The organization of parallel courses equivalent to the established classical course follows French rather than German precedent. In Germany the various types of courses are found in different schools: The Gymnasium, Realgymnasium, and Realschule.

The secondary schools of Belgium are a very important factor of the national life. The opportunity to secure a good education is offered to all, and no social or class distinctions determine the kind of education that a boy or girl shall receive. The great intellectual leaders of the country are usually products of the Athénée. In Belgium the classical course is still regarded as a dignified and scholarly course, but the utilitarian subjects are regarded as of equal importance and dignity with the classics.

Subdivisions of the Gymnasium-Periods per week devoted to mathematics in each.

17-18...

Classical course.

Modern language course..

Mathematical-scientific course..

226

226

226

The schools of Denmark have always been closely associated with the church, but in recent years the church control has been largely nominal. The clergy still continue to instruct the rural inhabitants in the sparsely settled sections of the country. The bishop and the clergy aid in the selection of teachers and in the general administration of the schools.

The schools are under the control of civil authorities. The minister of ecclesiastical affairs and public instruction has supervision of the entire educational system, including the university. Certain rights are vested in the local school authorities. It is the duty of the minister of public instruction to inspect and regulate the schools-to gather statistics and to apportion the school fund. Each of the 18 counties has its own school council, and each of the 60 districts has its school board, which appoints teachers, aids in selecting books, and arranges the course of study. Each commune and village has its school commission, which looks after the individual school.

The elementary schools are called Forskoler. Compulsory school attendance begins at the age of 7 and ends at 14. Most of these schools are free, and books are usually furnished without cost. In most of the rural districts the schools are coeducational, but this is not true of the schools in the larger cities.

The minimum length of the school year is 240 days of six periods each.

There are three divisions of the primary school. The first division is of three years; the second, two years; and the third, two years. The municipal school of Copenhagen is regarded as the best in the country, and the methods and courses of study used there are freely copied elsewhere. Coeducation has been introduced into some of the elementary schools of Copenhagen with marked success. The course at Copenhagen is seven years in length; in some parts of the country it is eight.

The middle and secondary schools are in process of development, and it is difficult to draw sharp distinctions between the various kinds of schools. In some of the municipal elementary schools the highest classes overlap some of the classes of the intermediate schools. In Copenhagen there are continuation schools where pupils

who have finished the first seven school years may secure further instructions in certain subjects. A short course in mathematics and its practical applications is given. These schools are growing rapidly.

The lowest four classes of the higher schools comprise the intermediate schools. A pupil enters the intermediate school at the age of 11 or 12 and completes the course at the age of 15 or 16. The intermediate schools are called "Mellemskole." They were established in 1903 in the attempt to eliminate the abrupt break between the elementary and the secondary schools. Most of the schools of this type outside of Copenhagen are coeducational.

After completing the four years of the Mellemskole, a pupil may enter the Realclasse, which continues for one year, or he may enter the three-year Gymnasium, which prepares for the university.

The Gymnasium course is composed of three subdivisions: (a) The classical course, (b) the modern language course, (c) the mathematical-scientific course. In all secondary schools the recitation period is 50 minutes. The summer vacation begins early in July.

There are a number of private schools in Denmark, called Folkehoiskole. They follow the intermediate school and are largely cultural in aim. The mathematical instruction in these schools is usually limited to facility in calculation and correlation with the natural sciences.

The elementary primary schools of Finland are coeducational; the higher primary schools are not. A small fee is charged at all primary schools. Education is not compulsory beyond the elementary school.

The primary schools in cities are usually divided into three periods: (a) The elementary primary school of two years; (b) the ordinary primary school of four years; (c) the complementary school of one year. A pupil must be at least 9 years of age before he can enter the ordinary primary. The age for entering the complementary

school varies from 14 to 17 years.

As the population of Finland is largely rural, and exceptionally homogeneous, the courses in all primary schools are practically the same.

There are four types of secondary schools: (a) The classical lycée, (b) the real lycée, (c) the preparatory schools, (d) finishing schools (for girls only).

There are 26 State lycées for boys and 16 for girls. The pupils who enter the lycées are from 9 to 12 years of age. In the real lycée one more hour a week is given to mathematics than in the classical lycée, and much more emphasis is placed upon the study of physics.

Primary education in France is free, compulsory, and secular. The law requires that every commune must have at least one primary school for boys, and every commune of more than 5,000 population must have a primary school for girls. Education is compulsory from the sixth to the thirteenth year.

Primary instruction is given up to about the age of 10 or 11; then more or less differentiation in training occurs. There is an elementary course of two years; the pupils in this course range in age from 6 to 9 years. This is followed by an intermediate course of two years; the pupils are from 9 to 11 years of age. Finally, there is a higher primary school of two or three years. Most of the pupils take only the first two of these courses and then enter a secondary school. The higher primary course is not offered in all schools.

Higher primary instruction is of two kinds: (a) The higher primary course, and (b) the complementary course. The first differs from the second in that it is entirely separate from the elementary school and is under a different director. The complementary course is connected with the elementary school and is under the same direction. The higher primary school usually has a course of two, sometimes of three, years. The complementary course is one year. Pupils who complete the course in the higher primary school are prepared for agriculture, industry, and commerce. However, the aim in these schools is not primarily to prepare the pupil for a particular vocation, but to furnish a general practical knowledge of several vocations. Those who wish to prepare for examinations for entrance to more advanced schools are put into a special section. To be admitted to either of the above divisions, a pupil must have a certificate from the elementary school and must have taken at least one year of additional work.

The school day lasts from 8.30 to 11.30 a. m. and from 1 to 4 p. m. Sessions are held daily except Sunday and Thursday. The latter day is set apart for religious instruction outside of the school. Vacation begins about August 15 and lasts until December 1. Coeducation is the exception throughout the French system.

The minister of education nominates an inspector of primary schools for each district. Superior in authority to these are the inspectors of academies; these men are really heads of departments of primary schools. There are 10 general inspectors of primary education, who stand next to the minister in authority in these schools.

Secondary education is not compulsory; nor is it free. The State charges a small fee, but numerous scholarships are offered. The present organization of the secondary schools dates back to 1902. The curricula of these schools were somewhat modified in 1905 and 1909.

There is a course of seven years. The pupil usually enters at the age of 10 or 11 and graduates at the age of 17 or 18. The secondary school is divided into two cycles, the first of four and the second of three years. Pupils who enter the first section are required