EVENING or NIGHT SCHOOLS, schools in which instruction is given to pupils debarred, generally by reason of being wage earners, from the advantages of the day schools. Evening schools arose at a time when compul sory education was not as widespread as at present and when more children were conse quently growing up without instruction. Be ginning with the idea of imparting the more rudimentary branches, such schools have ex tended their scope until in some cases they form departments of institutions devoted to the study of art, science or technology. In some of its wider aspects their work has become allied to the university extension movement.
Central The evening schools in central Europe are largely the outgrowth of Sunday-schools which shortly after the middle of the 18th century began to add elementary secular instruction to religious teaching. The school age limit being less than at present, a review or continuation of school studies seemed of great importance. In Germany, beginning with lessons in arithmetic and the mother tongue, the range of instruction gradually widened. Some states made attendance obliga tory at such Sunday-schools in certain cases. At present the term Fortbildungsschulen (liter ally °further developing schools") is applied in Germany and Switzerland to schools intended for pupils who have passed the elementary school age and yet study the elementary branches. These Fortbildungsschulcn are open only in winter and rarely require more than six hours of attendance in the week. Their object is to give boys a practical turn of mind by instruction fitted to bear upon their future callings. They do not furnish instruction in foreign or dead languages or the higher mathe matics. In Switzerland, all the 25 cantons have systems of Fortbildungsschulen held on Sun days, holidays and in the evening. The evening schools of France, now numbering many thou sands, appear not to date back farther than 1820. The tendency is toward technical train ing rather than liberal studies, but there are also evening classes or lectures open to those who desire a broader culture.
Great Britain.— In 1806 a benevolent asso
ciation founded an evening school in Bristol, England, for young persons who were working for a living. In 1811 a school for adults was started in Bala, Wales, and others shortly fol lowed in London and other towns. Such schools were originally supported by private benevolence or local funds, but the government, after a time, saw the wisdom of aiding them by grants. Since 11361 this aid has been greatly increased, but is not intended to superscde local effort. Accord ing to regulations issued by the Board of Educa tion of Great Britain for the school year ending 31 July 1903, local funds were expected to meet 25 per cent of expenditure for the evening schools and such expenditure to be approved by the board. The schools must not be con ducted for private profit. They are under super vision and examination by the board, are subject to its examinations and must report to it. Schools charging no fees are not generally rec ognized. Instruction must begin after 4 P. fa. or on Saturday after 1 P. ht, Students under 12 are not admitted nor those who attend day schools under government inspection (art students bcing excepted). The courses are as follows : (1) Literary and commercial; (2) art ; (3) manual instruction; (4) mathematics and science; (5) home occurations and industries. The last course is largely for girls and includes °home nursing.)) The boys may take a course in am bulance training, in gardening, etc. Through out London the evening schools give instruc tion in gymnastics and swimming and life-sav ing methods have been taught to some of the pupils. Evening classes have been held in Lon don at various institutions such as University College, King's College, South Kensington Mu seum, etc. In the so-called provincial colleges evening classes constitute an important part of the work. Special schools give instruction in commercial branches, courses for women, art, technology and advanced science. The Edu cation Department of Great Britain reported 1911-12 for the evening schools of England and Wales 7,749 schools inspected and 222,776 pupils enrolled.