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POPULAR EDUCATION.
297
and demonstrations (corresponding to the three first books of Euclid); — in
Geography; further exposition of the scenery, the mercantile and social conditions of
Sweden; commerce of the world and its highways; climatic conditions and the
distribution of the plant and animal kingdom in different quarters of the globe;
— in History: the most important events in the history of the world, with especial
stress on the evolution of civilization and with reference to the connection of
Swedish history with the outside world; main outlines of the Swedish constitution;
— in Natural Science: the most important parts of Physics and Chemistry as
bearing on every-day life; Hygiene. Also instruction in Sloyd and Domestic Economy.
In various places instruction is given in one foreign language (German or English).
From the law requiring every child to pass through the entire curriculum,
laid down for the common schools of the district before being entitled to a
complete certificate, one exception is made in the statute for common schools. It
there says, namely, that pupils who are prevented by poverty from availing
themselves of the instruction for the number of years properly required, may »where
circumstances demand it» be allowed to leave school if they have passed the so-called
minimum. This minimum embraces: a) in Religion: Bible History and Catechism
as far as necessary for partaking in the parochical instruction preparing for the
first communion; — b) in Swedish: fluent and correct reading, with exercises in
understanding and accounting for what has been read; legible writing of easy
words and sentences, with fairly accurate spelling; some practice in expressing
thoughts in writing; — c) in Arithmetic: the four first rules in integers with
application to the most practically important problems; introduction to decimal fractions,
and addition and subtraction in decimal fractions together with the meaning
and notation of vulgar fractions; — d) in Singing (except for those who have
no gift for it at all): Hymn and Song melodies. For pupils who have obtained
permission, on these conditions, to leave the common school, the so-called
Continuation-Schools are to be instituted (see p. 289) and parents and guardians should
be urged by the school Board to make their children attend them.
Among common school subjects, gymnastics — in Sweden according to Ling’s
system — has for its chief aim the physical development of the children. This
is partly the case also with regard to the teaching of gardening and
tree-planting, of sloyd for boys, and of domestic economy. For the same purpose, various
social-hygienic arrangements, aside from those provided for by the law, have been
introduced in several school districts, more especially in the larger towns. Among
these may be mentioned the distribution of food to children, the arrangements
for school baths, work-rooms, vacation colonies, etc.
In Stockholm, the providing of food to children is connected with the school
kitchens, in such a way that the food prepared by the school girls in the forenoon
serves for dinners to such pupils as would not get a proper meal at home. In some
places, poor children get their meals quite free, in several others they have to
contribute themselves about a penny towards the cost. The school kitchens,
the earliest of which in Sweden were established 1882 by the Lars Hierta’s
memorial foundation on the initiative of Mrs. Anna Hierta-Retzius, have proved serviceable.
For a long series of years, baths and swimming lessons in the summer months
have been arranged for common school pupils, both bovs and girls, in the largest
towns in Sweden. Recently, school-baths have been arranged even in winter.
Special bath-rooms have been erected in certain schools, and the children there
can get a warm bath every third or fourth week. The profiting of such baths
is general, though voluntary. This regulation has proved highly beneficial to the
children’s cleanliness and health.
The workshops for children (Arbetsstugor för barn) co-operate with the
instruction in sloyd, the distribution of food, etc., to the benefit of the children.
They will be described in detail below.
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