oldenburg-l - Nachricht 2006-10 00037

[Werner Honkomp <werner(a)honkomp.de>]

Hello Fred,
thank you for help.
Werner

> Margot,
> as time went on education became ever more regimented in the various
> German states. They were in the forefront here among all countries in
> the world and the German educational system became an example others
> would follow.

> The outlying farm groups (Bauerschaften) had a choice of sending their
> kids to the main school or starting their own. They mostly chose the
> latter because of distance. It could also be 'controlled' a bit better
> at home if the need for help on the farm arose. Kids pretty much had
> to work and at 14 you were supposed to be done with all that schooling
> and earn a living. Only the höhere Bürgerschule offered a way up the
> line and out of a very basic education. Later it became the Gymnasiums
> in regional cities but travel arrangements had to be possible.

> During much of the early to mid 19th century the single class for all
> students was the norm with the church custodian, organist etc (Küster,
> Ludimagister, etc) being the designated school teacher. A bunch of my
> ancestors served in this function in the Osnabrück area in Lutheran
> parishes. In Prussian controlled areas these teachers were often
> retired or cashiered former soldiers. The idea was that discipline was
> more important then lots of school learning. Many of these school had
> a hard time when it was time to harvest the fields as the students
> mysteriously got sick and couldn't be in school. Some schools even
> fined the parents because of this absenteeism. The clergy might have
> taught religion but typically they were above the menial task of
> teaching. Teachers really did not enjoy much prestige and were very
> poorly paid. It had to be a labor of love and very hard work.

> Fred