Prussian education system

The Prussian education system was a system of mandatory education dating to the early 19th century. Parts of the Prussian education system have served as models for the education systems in a number of other countries, including Japan and the United States.

Characteristics of the Prussian education system

The Prussian system instituted compulsory attendance, national training for teachers, national testing for all students (used to classify children for potential job training), national curriculum set for each grade, and mandatory kindergarten.

History

During the 18th century, the Kingdom of Prussia was among the first countries in the world to introduce "free" (i.e. tax-funded) and generally compulsory primary education, comprising an eight-year course of primary education, "Volksschule". It provided not only the skills needed in an early industrialized world (reading, writing, and arithmetic), but also a strict education in ethics, duty, discipline, and obedience. Affluent children often went on to attend preparatory private schools for an additional four years, but the general population had virtually no access to secondary education.

Lutheran influence

Historically, the Lutheran denomination had a strong influence on German culture, including its education. Martin Luther advocated compulsory schooling and this idea became a model for schools throughout Germany.

Pietist influence

Pietism, a reformist group within Lutheranism, forged a political alliance with the King of Prussia based on a mutual interest in breaking the dominance of the Lutheran state church. The Prussian Kings, Calvinists among Lutherans, feared the influence of the Lutheran state church and its close connections with the provincial nobility, while Pietists suffered from persecution by the Lutheran orthodoxy. Bolstered by royal patronage, Pietism replaced the Lutheran church as the effective state religion by the 1760s.

Pietist theology stressed the need for "inner spirituality", which can only come about through the reading of Scripture. Consequently, Pietists helped form the principles of the modern public school system including the stress on literacy.

The political motivations of the King of Prussia

Seeking to replace the controlling functions of the local aristocracy, the Prussian court attempted to instill social obedience in the citizens through indoctrination. Every individual had to become convinced, in the core of his being, that the King was just, his decisions always right, and the need for obedience paramount.

The schools imposed an official language to the prejudice of ethnic groups living in Prussia. The purpose of the system was to instill loyalty to the Crown and to train young men for the military and the bureaucracy. As the German philosopher Johann Gottlieb Fichte, a key influence on the system, said, "The schools must fashion the person, and fashion him in such a way that he simply cannot will otherwise than what you wish him to will."

Compulsory education

A series of edicts made clear for the first time that education was a task of the state. This evolution finally culminated in 1763 when Frederick II made schooling compulsory for all children between five and thirteen.

Prussian General Land Law

Though Prussian ministers, particularly Karl Abraham Freiherr von Zedlitz, sought to replace local control over schooling with a centralized, uniform system administered by the state during the eighteenth century, not until the implementation of the Prussian General Land Law of 1794 did the state first attempt to take responsibility for educational institutions. All schools and universities were made institutions of the state.

Institution of the final examination, Abitur

The final examination, "Abitur", was introduced in 1788, implemented in all Prussian secondary schools by 1812, and extended to all of Germany in 1871. Passing the high-school graduation examinations was a pre-requisite to entering the learned professions and the civil service.

Reforms of Wilhelm von Humboldt

In 1809, the Prussian philosopher and minister of education, Wilhelm von Humboldt, undertook a major reform of the Prussian education system which was significantly influenced by this idealistic approach, and still forms the foundation of the contemporary German education system.

Institution of teacher certification requirements

In 1810, Prussia introduced state certification requirements for teachers, which significantly raised the standard of teaching.

pread of the Prussian education system to other countries

In Austria, Empress Maria Theresa made use of Prussian pedagogical methods as a means to strengthen her hold over Austria. The Prussian reforms in education spread quickly through Europe, particularly after the French Revolution.

Emulation of the Prussian education system in the United States

American educators were fascinated by German educational trends. In 1818 John Griscom gave a favorable report of Prussian education. English translations were made of French philosopher Victor Cousins' work, "Report on the State of Public Education in Prussia." Calvin E. Stowe, Henry Barnard, Horace Mann, George Bancroft and Joseph Cogswell all had a vigorous interest in German education. In 1843 Mann traveled to Germany to investigate how the educational process worked. Upon his return to the United States he lobbied heavily to have the Prussian model adopted.

Horace Mann was largely responsible for the introduction of compulsory public education, Prussian-style, in the United States. In 1852, he supported governor Edward Everett in the decision to adopt the Prussian education system in Massachusetts. Shortly after Everett and Mann collaborated to adopt the Prussian system, the Governor of New York set up the same method in twelve different New York schools on a trial basis.

External links

* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=uexMYBkfCic video-pamphlet on the history of compulsory education]
* [http://www.quantumshift.tv/v/1198046178 mini-documentary of the U.S. adoption of Prussian schooling]