Education, Appointment, and Remuneration of Teachers Primary and Elementary Schools Organization of elementary education.—According to a royal regulation of June 12, 1936, the elementary school beginning with school year 1948-49, will comprise seven 1-year classes. Until then it may be a 6- or 7-year school. The two lower classes comprise the primary school (literally "small school"-småskola); the remaining 4-5 classes, the elementary school proper (egentilga folkskola). An elementary school may be one of four types. The two main types offer full-time instruction in six or seven 1-year classes throughout the school year. At one, type A, each class is in charge of a separate teacher. At the other, type B, one teacher has charge of two or more classes. In special instances where sparse population and long distance to school make a main type out of the question, exceptional type C may be established. This is a half-time elementary school with six or seven 1-year classes forming 1- or 2-teacher divisions (läraravdelningar) with a separate teacher in charge of each division. Each teacher division comprises at least two instruction divisions receiving instruction at different times, either every second day during the entire school year, or every day during part of the year. The minor elementary school (mindre folkskola), or exceptional type D, is a 1-teacher school found only in remote areas with few children. Here instruction on both elementary and primary school levels is offered usually by a teacher who has passed only the examination for primary school teachers (p. 65). It may have one instruction division with full-time teaching, or two half-time instruction divisions with the pupils of each division attending every second day throughout the school year, or daily for one-half of the school year. Duration of instruction. To obtain State subsidy the school year must be at least 34%1⁄2 weeks. Many districts, however, have a school year from August 25 to about December 20, and from January 12-13 to June 5-6, or 39 weeks in all. Instruction is usually offered 6 days a week. In the primary division the school day cannot exceed 5 hours; in the elementary, 6. The total number of hours a week, including morning prayers, cannot exceed 36. Between each hour of instruction, which is generally 45 minutes, a recess of 10 to 15 minutes must intervene. The third hour is followed by a longer free period. Curriculum.-The subjects offered in both the primary and elementary school are: Religion, Swedish, arithmetic, study of environ 61 ment with practical work, singing, gymnastics, and-where conditions allow-sloyd. In the elementary school proper arithmetic is supplemented with geometry; and gymnastics, with play and athletics. The additional subjects of this division are geography, natural science, history, drawing, and—where provision is made by the school authorities-home economics. Education General data.-Teachers for each of the two divisions of the elementary school receive their education respectively at seminaries for the education of primary school teachers and seminaries for the education of elementary school teachers. These are State institutions and the royal regulations now governing them, including the plans of instruction, were issued January 21, 1938, for the primary school seminaries and June 18, 1937, for those of the elementary school. At both types of seminaries the aim of instruction— shall be to educate the students to be skillful, broad-minded, and sympathetic teachers of elementary school children. It shall give the general education and special information necessary for the future calling of the students, aim to arouse a desire to increase their information and skill through continued education, and imbue them with loyalty to their chosen profession. To the extent that it is possible, the work at the seminaries shall be arranged so as to afford the student opportunity to master prescribed courses through free and independent study. Whenever opportunity is afforded, the instruction shall have regard to the needs and interests of practical life. It shall be conducted in such manner as to further order and the fulfillment of duty. During instruction effort shall be made to further the development of the students to moral, truth loving, and independent personalities. For both types of institutions the school year is a fall semester of 17 weeks beginning in August and a winter semester of 22 weeks ending in June. Each school week is 6 days; each hour of instruction, 45 minutes. No student may attend more than 7 classes in any one day. In addition to the specific requirements for admission to each line of study the applicant for admission to either type of seminary must be a member of the Swedish Church, have a good reputation as to conduct, be of good health and free of any ailment that would hinder progress at the seminary or be detrimental later to effective work as teacher. Admission to a class or division is limited regularly to 24 students. In 1937 the number of applicants for admission to the seminaries for the education of primary school teachers was 140; at the seminaries for the education of elementary school teachers, 1,228. Of these 65 were admitted to the former and 385 to the latter. Practice school (övningsskolan).-Attached to each seminary and |