Expenditures for 1888-Continued.

Total.

State subsidies.

XII. Art and manual training schools in Christiania a
XIII. Industrial schools for girls, work or apprenticeship schools for public
service....

XIV. Expenditures for examination for examen artium aud maturity examinations in secondary schools..

XV. The university..

Total

a During the school year 1890 the Government gave a subsidy of 14,000 crowns ($3,752) to 178 s/hools for carrying on instruction in manual training.

b That is, of the whole amount expended for the schools in 1888, about one-third came from Government funds.

SUPERVISION AND ADMINISTRATION.

The administration of educational affairs in Norway is left, as far as the highest supervision is concerned, in about the position that it was before the promulgation of the new law. The immediate superintend ence devolves now more upon local school boards than upon rectors, bishops, and other dignitaries. Prior to 1888, the date for which statistics are presented, supervision was as follows:

The highest school authority of the Kingdom was the Department of Ecclesiastical Affairs and Education, the reports of which are furnished to the King and legislative body, i. e., the Storthing, every third year. The chief officer of the educational division of the department has supervision of the university and of higher educational institutions, such as the classical and Real schools and the higher burgher schools. The normal schools are also under charge of this department and their teachers are appointed by the King. The department exercises general supervision over all schools of Norway, but with local officers in direct charge. The elementary schools come under the charge of the diocesan board in each of the six dioceses into which the kingdom is divided. Attached to this board, which is composed of the chief executive officer of the county and of the bishop of the diocese, is a school inspector, one for each diocese, whose duty it is to travel through the diocese and examine minutely into the condition of the common schools. These six ecclesiastical divisions were again subdivided into seventy-seven deaneries, the heads of which reported to the diocesan directors, and were invested with the higher inspection of schools and the control of school committees. The communal authorities have immediate charge of the schools of the commune and school district; but while the communal officers look after the externals the bishop and pastor, or clergyman, watch most carefully over the inner workings of the school. The ordinary school district has the same limits as the municipal district. The governing power consists of two coöperative boards, the school committee as the administrative board, the municipal council voting the necessary

funds. The school committee had for its members the pastor of the parish as chairman, one of the teachers of the district (elected by his colleagues), the chairman of the runicipal council, and other members of the council, if it so decided. The duties of this committee were manifold. They inspected the schools, examined as to attendance, condition of buildings and furnishings, prepared the annual school budget to lay before the municipal council, and at the close of each year reported to the diocesan authorities as to the condition of schools in their respective districts. The city or town schools were and are under the immediate authority of the municipal council, and in the larger cities an inspector is installed.

The school committee may also appoint one or more of the residents of the district to look after the regular attendance of pupils, and the clerical member of the committee is expected to observe that order and diligence are maintained in the schools, and that a christian spirit is inculcated.

City schools. According to the law of June 26, 1859, the following is the arrangement for the administration of city schools: Each town is required to have a school board which is composed (1) of one or more clergymen of the parish, the limit being three, the bishop of the diocese choosing those whom he wishes to have serve for a two years' period; (2) of a member of the municipal council chosen by the council at the commencement of each year; (3) of as many members, elected by the municipal administration, as it may consider advisable, these members being subject to the law of January, 1837, relative to municipal councils, as far as length of service and reappointment are concerned. The members of the school board choose from their own numbers a president and vice-president, who are to serve for a one year's period. A member of the magistracy and the presiding officer of the school council take part at the meetings of the school board as consulting members. The members of the school board who are not Protestants can not participate in the deliberations relative to religious instruction. The duties of the school board1 are to look out for the interests of the schools and for the children who are not in school. The school board holds meetings once a month and as much oftener as is necessary. It prepares the plan of studies and arranges the hours of work. It informs the magistracy, annually, of the funds required for the management of the schools. If the funds suffice, an inspector of elementary schools is to be appointed, and his duties are to be indicated by the board. The school board organizes a committee of inspection for each elementary school or for each group of schools in the same building. This committee is composed: (1) of a member chosen by the school board; (2) an ecclesiastic or clergyman appointed for a two year period by the bishop; (3) three members chosen by the parents of the children frequenting the school. One of the members acts as presiding officer of the committee. The committee is It may be stated that four women have been elected members of the visitors board of the public schools at Christiansand.

required to keep constant watch over the school under its charge, and to give the school board any information desired. In addition the school committee may have a certain part in the distribution of the school funds, if the municipal authorities agree to it. The school board reports annually to the higher council in regard to the condition of schools, and every five years, oftener if the municipal authorities require it, a report on elementary schools must be published.

The elementary teachers, male and female, of the city or town form a school council, its object being to discuss the affairs of the schools in common. If there is a school inspector he takes part in the council and presides over it, if not, the school board signifies which member of the teaching force shall preside. If the teachers of the town number more than sixty, the school board decides whether it is advisable to have a school committee composed of others than the principals of the schools to join with the school council in the management of school affairs. The term of office of such members is two years, with change of half the number each year, the first time by ballot; a reelection is allowable, and acceptance is expected. The school board decides whether such a council is necessary, and whether an inspector or school director is to preside over the meetings. The members of the school council are to meet whenever the presiding officer requests, or oftener, if the members themselves decide that it is necessary for them to do so. No decision of the council is of value unless half of the members are present. If there is a division, the presiding officer's vote counts as two. The school council must consult with the school board in regard to the general organization of primary schools, the general regulations for order and discipline, text-books, and plan of studies.

The duties of the school superintendents are thus defined. The actual supervisor or superintendent of clementary schools ought, each in his district, to act as a higher inspector, to see that the school laws are carried out. The King decides, with the approbation of the Storthing, how these oficials of higher inspection are to be chosen. The bishop and the dean of the clergymen watch over the inspection of religious instruction. These superintendents of elementary instruction are supposed to travel about and reside in the different towns of the district, so as to keep familiar with methods employed and take part in the school councils, while in regard to religious matters they are to consult the bishop. The bishop and supervisors are authorized to participate in discussions of the school board and the municipal council in regard to school affairs, but their vote is not counted. This board of inspection is required to furnish an annual report each year to the minister of education.

Rural schools.-For the administering of school affairs in rural dis tricts the arrangement differs from that of city schools, as will be seen.

Each commune must have a school board, which is to be composed of: (1) a clergyman or curate chosen by the bishop; (2) the president of the municipal council; (3) a regular teacher elected for two years by the teachers, both male and female, at a meeting presided over by the president of the school board; (4) as many members elected by the communal administrative officers as they desire, term of service of officers, reëlection, etc., being decreed by law of January 14, 1837; (5) the proprietor of a manufactory or other industry who pays for a school for the children of his workmen. The members of the school board who are not professing Christians will not be allowed to participate in the discussions appertaining to religious instruction. The clergymen of the parish are authorized to take charge of the religious instruction in the elementary grades.

The duties of the school board are to watch over all the interests of the elementary and continuation schools; to see that children who do not attend school receive elementary instruction; to prepare the school regulations and plan of studies and to arrange the hours of recitations; to present an estimate of the school funds necessary; to organize for each school circle or district a committee of inspection, which shall be composed of one member elected by the school board and of three members chosen in a meeting of district personages. This committee is to keep constant watch over the schools, and to keep the school board informed as to the attendance, absenteeism, discipline, whereabouts of ambulatory schools, etc. The committee may also suggest as to school funds, etc.

The meeting which elects the school committee is to be composed of all taxpayers who are at least 25 years of age, the parents of school children, etc. When voting for school expenses only those who pay are allowed to vote. The meetings may be called when the school board desires or when at least five heads of families request it.

The school board must report in regard to the schools annually to the higher council of inspection, and must publish a report every five years if the communal authorities so require.

The school board is to obtain information in regard to the instruction given children who do not attend the public schools, and, if such instruction is not what it should be, the children can be required to pass an examination before the teachers of the elementary schools, if the parents desire it. Singing, drawing, gymnastics and manual training are not included in such examinations, however. The school board is to see that backward children have suitable instruction in special schools arranged for that purpose, and that children of indigent parents receive whatever material aid is required so that they may attend school. The school fund not being sufficient for such purpose, the publie charitable organizations may be called upon, as also in case children are incorrigible, so that they, too, may receive school privileges where they will not demoralize the better class of children.

The superintendent or supervisor of elementary instruction ought, each in his district, to see that the laws are carried out; in case of his demise or withdrawal from office the King will decide, with the consent of the Storthing, how such higher inspection is to be carried out. The bishop and dean of the clergymen have religious instruction in charge. The superintendents are expected to visit the schools of other localities and observe how they are carried on and to assist the school board and teachers by suggestions, counsel, etc. Before deciding any matter appertaining to religious instruction the bishop's advice should be taken. The superintendent and bishop are authorized to participate in the meetings of the school boards, and in the discussions of school affairs by the communal authorities. The superintendent also assists at the deliberations of the general council and of the departmental school administration.

Each county is to have a county school board composed of three members chosen by the general council. They are chosen for four years with alternate change of two, and then one member every two years. There are also two substitutes chosen each time. The school administration of the department chooses its own president and vice-president annually. It has charge of all school affairs which are common to the county; is supposed to have a thorough knowledge of all school affairs, and each year suggests as to the school budget, each commune being supposed to notify the higher inspection or supervisor when a meeting will be held to discuss school affairs.

TRAINING OF TEACHERS.1

In Norway the teachers' calling is considered a high one and the teachers are generally esteemed.. To thoroughly educate them for such a profession the Norwegian Government has arranged for the training of teachers for elementary schools in the six normal schools, one for each diocese of the kingdom. These schools, situated at Asker, Hamar, Kristiansand, Stordöen, Klaebu, and Tromsöe, are under governmental supervision, and each normal has a practice school attached to it, where the pupils can put the theoretical part of their education into practice. There is also a class of minor training schools for teachers with studies similar to the higher elementary schools; these are under the supervision of the board of the diocese and are under inspection of the dean and pastor of the parish, while the state normals come under the head of seminaries; these latter institutions are the so-called Lærerskoler, which are either attached to the higher elementary grades or become the upper class of the general elementary school. There are comparatively few state normal schools for women, as female teachers are not yet generally employed in the schools, but there have been for several years private normals for the prepara

The status of and general regulations appertaining to teachers prior to 1880 are here presented. The new law of 1889, as it applies to teachers in city and rural schools, differs in many particulars. Such changes are noted a few lines below.