SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION. The German States act independently in their school systems. The main important outlines of the respective sys tems are nevertheless almost uniform. There is much variation in details. The Prussian sys tem is generally described as representative. The control of the Prussian schools is through the Department of Education, subject to the limita tions of the Constitution and of precedent. The head of the department is a Cabinet officer, known as the Minister of Religion, Education, and Medi cal Affairs. The Minister is aided by a large number of special councilors. There are two di visions in the department, the first having charge mainly of the universities and the secondary schools, the second of other branches of educa tion. In each province there is a school board, of which the president of the province is chair man. The other members are proposed by the Minister of Education and appointed by the King. This board supervises the most general matters, such as questions concerning text-books, etc., and especially matters concerning the sec ondary schools. The provinces are divided into
`governments,' and these again into districts, both the large and small divisions having school boards. These 'Government' school boards concern themselves more particularly with the common schools. The district board erects buildings, su pervises salaries and pensions, and other local financial matters. Its principal member is the inspector, who is appointed for life. Finally there is the local school board—one for each school—exercising oversight over external mat ters such as repairs, supplies, etc. Local authori ties have nothing to do with the internal affairs of the schools, the central authority possessing absolute control.
Germany offers ample provisiOns for every phase of technical instruction. There area very large number of artisan and trade schools, also special schools for agriculture, forestry, mining, architecture, art and art-industry, and in addi tion nine technical high schools and polytechnics, these last two being as high in rank as the poly technical colleges in America.