Schleswig-Holstein School Records

Schooling fell to the Church, the main reason being the education of monks. In the cities higher education became available, i.e., Dom Schleswig, Ratzeburg, and Lübeck. Schriftschulen (writing schools) were available in Lübeck to educate the wealthy merchants. In Kiel a school for Latin developed in the 14th century. In the 18th century reforms were made by the state in order to exercise a greater influence. Secular education became more important. Education in the rural areas was strenghtend, the goals of higher education were appropriated to cultural and professional requirements.

The Reformation renewed the education system. Martin Luther had a major impact on financing education through church funds. The Church determined the curriculum and controlled the schools (Visitationen). The individual parishes took responsibility for building and maintaining schools. Luther envisioned schools to teach Latin which would prepare students for theological studies. Christian III of Denmark issued in 1542 a school curriculum which the Protestant princes supported. They were interested in having new blood          for the clercial and administrative posts in their duchies. Higher education was only availabe for males until well into the 19th century. In 1665 the University of Kiel was established. In 1814 school in Schleswig-Holstein became mandatory.

The Church regulations of 1542 dealt extensively with Latin schools in the cities. In the rural schools the sexton was to teach to his best ability the catechism. Schools were found mainly in parish villages. Latin was also taught in some rural schools. Teaching was an incidental occupation, the funding of a schools depended on the local economy or the manor lord. Most people were too poor to pay money for schooling. In many places school was open only during the winter months.

Improvements came in the middle of the 17th century when catechism examinations were installed and confirmations required. Between 1733 and 1743 several orders for schools were issued. The school was to serve the common good, the earthly as well as the spiritual. The Christian demeanour was the guiding principle. In 1781 and 1784 the first teacher seminaries were established in Kiel and Tondern.

When in 1814 school became mandatory, several aspects of schooling were improved. Latin and ancient languages were taught in schools leading to university studies. Curricula of realistic subjects were introduced at every school