A totally different discipline prevails in the Gymnasia to that
of the Folk's-schools. Corporal punishments here, for the most
part, cease in the higher classes entirely. Tasks, shutting up,
open reproof, but especially moral restraint, are the means
employed for correction. The teachers also stand in a totally
different position in regard to their scholars; at least in the
higher classes there is less school compulsion, though probably
on that account not the less pedantry to be observed. In
general, the gymnasiast is already more free, and placed in
greater external advantage than the scholars of the other
schools; the near prospect of student life calls forth, not seldom,
extravagances, which, however, are contended with more vigo-
rously by the teachers, but through the advanced age of the
youths are not readily repressed. Though it is strictly forbid-
den, yet the gymnasiast frequently resorts secretly to public
places of diversion, inns, etc. ; he also begins to smoke, and to
become regardless of conventional relations. Tn many cities
the gymnasiasts have actually endeavoured, of course only the
older ones, to form corporations, and to imitate the university
Chores. But spite of all this, the constant and great diligence
of the gymnasiasts is not to be denied. They exert themselves,
because they know that it is only by that means that they can



GERMAN EDUCATION. 269

arrive at promotion ; that is, that they can obtain the right to
enter the university. We must here break off a moment to
notice a particular which is of essential importance*

The Exemption-and-Maturity-Right* belongs exclusively to
the Gymnasia — another cause which has called forth in many
German states contentions, the other schools already making
claims on this privilege. Nothing can indeed be more vexa-
tious, and even in many cases, unsettling, than for an able
scholar of the Real-school, after he has passed his examination,
and has given ample proof that he is quite qualified to enter the
university, to have again to make the course of the Gymnasium,
again to weary himself with the reading and study of the
ancient classics, entirely for the sake of the formality of promo-
tion, which might just as well be conferred on the Real-schools,
and by which money and more especially time might be spared.
