Table 10.-Plan of studies for the gymnasium and real gymnasium
[Numbers in parentheses apply to the real gymnasium only]

Of the 3 hours a week assigned to gymnastics, the third hour, weather permitting, was to be devoted to 2 hours out of doors.

1 Each hour of instruction comprised 50 minutes.

Of the 3 hours a week assigned to gymnastics, the third hour, weather permitting, was to be devoted to 2 hours out of doors.

In line with the change in the curriculum of the secondary school, a decree of April 19, 1934, stated that the entrance examination to the first class of the secondary school was a first selection of pupils qualified for secondary school studies. In addition to ability a minimum

amount of information and skill were necessary for admission. A pupil who failed in the entrance examination had to wait 1 year for admission to reexamination.

The selective principle extended throughout the secondary school course. Thus in case of unsatisfactory progress studies could not be continued. In the first 4 years a class could not be repeated if more than half of the subjects were unsatisfactory; in the last 4 years, if three or more subjects were unsatisfactory. This did not include nontheoretical subjects such as penmanship and singing. A class could be repeated once only. Conditional promotion was prohibited. More significant and important perhaps than the schedule itself was the tendency and purpose of secondary school education as expressed in the introductory passage of the decree: "The secondary schools are to develop the moral, mental, and physical forces of youth, entrusted to them, and educate those forces towards a moralreligious, patriotic, and social national feeling, thinking, and acting." The religious basis of all education was emphasized in the interpretation of the term "moral-religious." The main aim of education was to make religious conviction and religious feeling work actively in the minds and souls of youth.

Table 12.-Statistics of secondary schools, 1937-38

Commercial education.-Commercial education on continuation and secondary school levels was given at the three following listed types of schools. All were based on 8 years of organized schooling in Austria which generally comprised elementary schooling for the continuation school, and completion of the first 4 years of a secondary school for the commercial academies.

1. Commercial continuation schools (Kaufmännische Fortbildungsschulen). These were part-time schools offering a 3-year course of 8 hours a week of required instruction for commercial apprentices. According to a decree of June 23, 1933, the course comprised a total of 24 week-hours, including 5 hours in each of commercial arithmetic and merchandise; 3, in each of commercial science, correspondence, and bookkeeping; 2, in shorthand; and 1 in each of economic geography, business writing, and civics and taxation.

A week-hour as used here means 1 hour of instruction of 50 minutes a week for 1 school year.

2. Commercial economics schools (Kaufmännische Wirtschaftsschulen). These were 2-year commercial schools (literally "2-class commercial schools"-zweiklassige Handelsschulen) giving a 2-year fulltime course comprising, according to a decree of June 12, 1934, 60 week-hours of required instruction: Religion, 2; German, 7; foreign language, 8; commercial arithmetic, 7; commercial technique, 5; bookkeeping, 6; commercial correspondence, 6; civics, 2; economic geography, 4; merchandise, 6; shorthand, 4; business writing, 4; typing, 2; and 4 hours of optional work selected from among exercises in commercial science, typing, shorthand, gymnastics, and home economics for girls.

3. Commercial academies (Handelsakademien). The commercial academies were higher secondary commercial schools which aimed to supplement the commercial education of their pupils with a general education. Graduation from them was marked by a certificate of maturity (Reifezeugnis) which entitled the holder to admission to the High School of World Commerce (Hochschule für Welthandel) at Vienna. The curricula issued June 21, 1935, for these schools are given in table 13.

1 In addition optional subjects selected from among: Exercises in commercial science, 2; third foreign language and correspondence, 9; practice in merchandise laboratory, 4; typing, 2; shorthand, 1; economics for girls, 4.

Although plans for the reorganization of education in the Austrian Republic included from the first plans for the establishment of teacher education on a new basis, no essential changes were made in the practices in this field inherited from the Monarchy until the middle and close of our period when new regulations were issued, respectively, for the education of secondary and elementary school teachers.

Elementary school teachers

The education of elementary school teachers was governed until June 1, 1937, by articles 26 to 38 of the elementary school law of May 14, 1869, and its supplement of May 2, 1883. The former provided for 4-year schools-separate for men and women-for the education of teachers (Lehrerbildungsanstalten). Attached to each as a practice and model school was an elementary school; and at schools for women, also a kindergarten. Tuition was free. Needy students received scholarships on promise to devote themselves to teaching for at least 6 years.

For admission to the first year (literally "first year course". ersten Jahrgang) the applicant had to be at least 15 years of age, of good health and moral character, and pass a severe entrance examination (strenge Aufnahmeprüfung) covering in general, except for foreign languages, the subjects of the elementary school. Admission to each of the various classes at a school was limited to 40 pupils.

Success in the severe examination (strenge Prüfung) with which the 4-year course closed and which covered all the subjects of the teachertraining school was marked by a certificate of maturity (Zeugnis der Reife).

The certificate of maturity qualified for appointment as assistant or temporary teacher (Unter- or provisorischer Lehrer). Appoint

ment as regular teacher (Lehrer) required a certificate of qualification to teach (Lehrbefähigungszeugnis). This was attained through success in a State examination for qualification to teach (Lehrbefähigungsprüfung) taken the earliest after at least 2 years of practical work as assistant or temporary teacher. If unrestricted, the latter certificate entitled the holder to teach at common elementary schools (allgemeine Volksschulen) and at burgher schools (Bürgerschulen); if restricted, only at common elementary schools.

Continuation education for teachers (Fortbildung der Lehrer) was to be furthered through educational periodicals, the establishment of a teachers' library in each school district, periodic conferences, and continuation courses. The conferences were to be of two types: Annual conferences under the direction of the district school inspector for the discussion of the subjects of instruction, methods, introduction of new textbooks, discipline, etc.; and triennial national conferences.

Under the supplementary regulation of 1883, the entrance examination to the schools for the education of teachers covered the subjects of the burgher school. In admission, preference was given to applicants with some preliminary work in music. After graduation the procedure of qualification for appointment as regular teacher at a common elementary school was the same as before. Appointment as regular teacher or assistant at a burgher school required a certificate of qualification to teach at burgher schools (Lehrbefähigungszeugnis für Bürgerschulen). This was attained after at least 3 years of fully satisfactory service on temporary appointment at elementary or other schools and success in a special examination (besondere Prüfung).

For the further education of teachers, particularly those of the burgher schools, special courses (besondere Lehrkurse) were to be organized.

In the early days of educational reform in the Republic a demand of long standing on the part of elementary school teachers for admission to university study was regarded with approval. It was even suggested that they be educated at the universities through a 2-year course. The former terminated in January 1931 in a decree providing that graduates of the teacher-training schools could be admitted to university study as regular students on success in an examination. corresponding to the maturity examination of an accredited secondary school. In place of the latter, the curricula and study plans of July 7, 1932, (table 15) added a 1-year preparatory class (Vorbereitungsklasse) to the schools for the education of teachers.