“Edward was kept at school quite closely from his 6th to his 15th year.” 1
From a young age, Edward showed a keen interest in his academic pursuits. During his childhood, Prussia played a crucial role in advancing education, leading to significant improvements in schools worldwide.
“The Prussian system had by the 1830s attained the following characteristics:
- Free primary schooling, at least for poor citizens
- Professional teachers trained in specialized colleges
- A basic salary for teachers and recognition of teaching as a profession
- An extended school year to better involve children of farmers
- Funding to build schools
- Supervision at national and classroom level to ensure quality instruction
- Curriculum inculcating a strong national identity, involvement of science and technology
- Secular instruction (but with religion as a topic included in the curriculum)”2
I came across online photographs of German schoolhouses dating back to the mid-1800s. Gathering more information about them, including details about their school and the curriculum of that era, is the next step in the research process.
Citations:
- Newspapers.com. “Record-Journal 03 Aug 1895, Page 1,” n.d. https://www.newspapers.com/image/674928509/?terms=%22e.c.%20newport%22&match=1.
- ———. “Prussian Education System.” Wikipedia, July 26, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prussian_education_system.
Nancy Barber 