GERMAN RURAL SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1295, 25 November 1911, Page 11

GERMAN RURAL SCHOOLS.

More thaj) one-fifth of the children attending schools hi Berlin are physical degenerates, according to statistics recently issued by tho municipal authorities, aud these startling figures regarding the deterioration of .the: Gorman race have (says tho "Standard") given riso to the proposal just put' forward that all Ilio State schools of the capital should be iemoved into tho surrounding country in order that boys and girls may receive their education in a thoroughly healthy environment. Ily this scheme it is thought that tho physical degeneration so noticeable in recent yenrs lnny Iμ arrested and healthy children reared instead, of sickly ones. .- The tale told by tho official statistics is alarming enough to aroutn the friends of social reform to immediate action. There aro 305,000 school children in Berlin, and no fewer than "1,0(10 of them aro in such a. condition of health that they must, be under permanent medical supervision. They aro partly the offspring of men and women who bavo perpetrated alcoholic excesses, partly the children of consumptives, and of other weakly parents, but it is conceded that in all cases their inherited tendencies are enhanced by the unfavourable sanitary conditions under which they live, and that mauy of them might have been cured betimes if they had been brought up in other surroundings. To remedy this evil, which threatens lo undermine the best, foundation of every nation—the health and well-being of the masses of the population—a plan is under discussion to transplant.all the schools of the German metropolis to rural fields within tho area of suburban railways; that is, not exceeding 15-miles from Borlin. The idea is not merely to orect (ho school buildings outside tho city, but lo palace them right in the midst" of grecu fields and forests, so that the generations of future Germany may grow np amid all the beauties of nature, whereby, apart from tlin enormous advantage to tho natioual _ physique, tho children would become imbued with a sense of artistic beauty aud inspired with admiration for the works of- divine creation. It is thought that the realisation of this gigantic project would result in the production of a belter and nobler race of Ger-mans,-fit to lead the world in all the higher realms of thought and action. It is regarded- by many as an effective scheme for national regeneration. There are approximately 1000 State schools of nil grades in Berlin, and the work of transplanting them to ;ural districts outside would bo gigautic, but not too ambitions for the enterprising Germans to undertake. The originators of the plan point out that tho sites of the present-schools in the city am nil valuable, and that they could l>o sold in most cases for large n:ms of money, far in excess of the amount they cbst when built, owing to the general mcreaso in the price of land within the boundaries of the capital. Figures have been elaborated to prove, at any rate on paper, that the amount obtained by selling the sites ot the existing schools at prices which are current in tho respective parts of Berlin would suffice to erect new schools on a 'much bigjjer scalo in the rural environment of tho metropolis, and, more than that, to provide tho necessary funds w.iwy the , railway fares of the poorest children to and from their places of education.

The supporters of tho scheme have also worked out proposals' for a system of cheap monthly tickets for school children, which would cnablo them to travel very cnenplj" between homo and school, anil still leave.a margin of profit for the railways;; The railways, being the property of the State, might be pressed into the project practically at cost prior, or ■with a small mavgiu of' profit. Thoso children whose parents could afford it might be expected to pay their own fares, but those'adjudged below this financial capability might, it is suggested, receive free, tickets from the State, the requisite money to be provided by the salo of tho present schools within the citv.

At present tho whole huge* project is merely under discussion, but it is a discussion that may develop into practical decisions. Tho calculations of enthusiasts must be carefully revised," and the details of the proposals put forward must bo investigated before any actual steps can be.taken. Whether, after these questions have been sifted, the s,chome will prove 'practicable.remains to be seen.