The Realschulen are attended mainly by those who wish to
avoid the severe labour of Greek and Latin. If the graduates
of these schools, after the expiration of their three years* Uni-
versity course, could become in turn themselves teachers in
Realschulen, a constant falling off in standards would be un-
avoidable ; and hence the directors of Realschulen themselves,
who have the highest conception of the special work of their
institutions, have with great decision fixed the requirement that
teachers in the Realschule, like teachers in the Gymnasium,
shall be such as have had a classical training, — that is, such
as have been prepared for their profession in the Gymnasium
and the University. {Kern, Vierter Jahresbericht iiber die
Louise nst'ddtische Gewerbeschule, 1869, P* ^3*) Thus the fitness
of the Realschule to serve as a nursery for its own future teachers
is denied by its own representatives.
That which undoubtedly applies to those wlio are perfecting
themselves for the profession of teaching is just as true of all
branches of study that are accustomed to serve as a preparation
for the higher executive positions, and especially does it apply



42 OPINION OF 1869.
