this privilege
is limited to a small number of the pupils who show special ability. We
may mention also the _Continuation_ schools, which are held evenings and
Sundays. These schools are rapidly multiplying and becoming more
efficient, as many of them are held in the daytime. They furnish an
opportunity for the child who has completed the common school to review
his work, and also to add some subjects that will be of utility in his
lifework.

In general, there are three classes of secondary schools,--the
_Gymnasium_, the _Realgymnasium_, and _Oberrealschule_. Each prepares
for the university, and each has nine classes; namely, _Sexta_,
_Quinta_, _Quarta_, _Untertertia_, _Obertertia_, _Untersecunda_,
_Obersecunda_, _Unterprima_, and _Oberprima_. These schools differ
chiefly in the amount of classics they offer, the _Gymnasium_ laying
stress upon the classics and the _Realschule_ upon the realities.[172]
Neither of these schools succeeds the common school, and the boy who is
to pursue one of these courses of study must begin at not later than
nine or ten years of age.[173] Thus, if a professional life is chosen
for a boy, he cannot attend the common school,--at least not for more
than the first three or four years,--but must be sent to one of the
schools above mentioned, for they alone prepare for the university, and
without a university course he cannot enter a profession. The university
is the crowning institution of the German school system.

=Support of Schools.=--About one half of the expense of the schools is
paid from the general state fund, one third from local taxation, and the
balance comes from income from endowments, church funds, tuition, etc.
The general tendency is to make the schools free, according to the
recommendation of the minister of education, but some communities still
continue to charge tuition. In these cases, there are poor schools for
those who cannot pay tuition, thus affording school privileges to all.

=The Teachers.=--All teachers of the Prussian common schools are normal
graduates, or have had an equal pedagogic preparation.[174] Graduates of
the university seldom enter the common school work; they teach in the
secondary schools, in private schools, and as tutors. The common school
teachers generally come from the common schools. If a child shows
special aptness for teaching, the attention of the school inspector is
called to him, and, with consent of his parents, he is sent to a
prepa