REALSCHULE, rA-111'shori'lc. A German school of secondary instruction differing from the Gymnasium inasmuch as it offers no instruction in the classical languages and lays stress on science. The Realschule is an outgrowth of the realittic tendencies of the seventeenth and eigh teenth centuries. The institutions that Franeke established at Halle toward the close of the seventeenth century laid unusual stress on the study of nature. At the same time notable efforts were being made to introduce more science into the classical schools generally. In 17-47 Hecker established at Berlin an 5conomisch mathematische Rralsehule, which may be re garded as the prototype of the Realschille of to day. It gave instruction in the German, French, and Latin languages, writing, arith metic, drawing, history, geography, and the ele ments of geometry, mechanics, and architecture, and also in religion and ethics. Some optional study of various occupations and trades was also provided.
The Realschule of to-day has a six years' course, and its graduates go directly into busi ness life. Those who wish to take the university courses in science and mathematics attend the Oberrcaischu/e, which has a nine years' course. The programme in this school is like that in the Realgymnasimn, with the exception of the omis sion of Latin and the substitution therefor of more work in mathematics, natural history, chemistry, mineralogy, French, and English. Graduates of these two types of schools are regarded as on the same plane educationally, but both are looked upon as somewhat inferior to the graduates of the Gymnasium. Consult: Russell, German High Schools (New York, 1899) ; Bolton, Secondary School System of Germany (ib., 1900). See NATIONAL EDUCATION; GYM NASIA AND REALGYMNASIA.