Education, Appointment, and Remuneration of Teachers Elementary Schools Organization of elementary education.-Elementary education comprises general elementary education (gewoon lager onderwijs) offered regularly at a 7-year school; continuation education (vervolgonderwijs) offered for at least 2 years beyond the completed elementary school to boys and girls no longer of compulsory school age; extended elementary education (uitgebreid lager onderwijs), offered for at least 3 successive years beyond the first 6 years of the general elementary school; and special elementary education (literally "exceptional elementary education"-buitengewoon lager onderwijs), offered for children physically or mentally handicapped from participating to advantage in general elementary school instruction. Since the secondary school in the Netherlands is based on completion of the first 6 years of the elementary school in that country, larger communities generally have one central 7-year elementary school and a number of 6-year schools offering only the first 6 years of elementary school instruction. Consult the graph on page 105 for the relative place of the elementary schools in the educational system of the Netherlands. General elementary education (gewoon lager onderwijs).-Some idea of general elementary education particularly with reference to the subjects of instruction and the relative amount of time devoted to each subject may be obtained from the following plan of studies for the elementary schools at The Hague which may be regarded as typical: Table 22.-Plan of studies for the first 6 years of the regular elementary school at The Hague Hours in starred parentheses are optional; those in parentheses only are alternative lesser number of hours in the fifth and sixth years of schools detailed for special work] Extended elementary education (uitgebreid lager onderwijs).-Schools for extended elementary education, generally called U. L. O. schoolsprior to 1920, M. U. L. O., or Mulo schools from the term meer uitgebreid lager onderwijs (more extended elementary education)offer a 3- or 4-year course to young people who wish to continue education beyond that of the elementary school along lines more practical than those offered at regular secondary schools. Completion of extended elementary education is marked by diploma A for pupils who have pursued a line of study stressing modern languages; by diploma B, for those who have been interested in mathematics and science. Either diploma entitles the holder to appointment to lower civil-service positions and to middle positions in industry and commerce; and also, particularly diploma B, to admission to various types of higher secondary naval and technical schools. Practice with reference to issuing the diplomas differs. At The Hague the graduate of a 3-year school receives diploma A; the graduate of a 4-year school, diploma B. At the Public Extended Elementary School (Openbare U. L. O. School) at Hengelo which offers a 4-year course all pupils follow the same program of studies during the first 3 years and divide by choice into A and B divisions for the fourth year. According to regulations governing extended elementary education the subjects of instruction include those of the regular elementary school and at least three of the subjects French, German, English, mathematics, and commercial science. To these may be added one or more of the subjects general history, agriculture, horticulture, and fine handwork for girls. A typical plan of studies for the 4-year extended elementary school follows: Table 23.-Plan of studies for 4-year extended or higher elementary schools 1 Some Mulo schools have continued and offer a Mulo examination, but neither the schools nor the examination exist through law. |