=The Training of Teachers.=--While Francke's greatest work for mankind was the _Institutions_ mentioned above, we must notice one field of his activity that is of especial importance to us,--that of the training of teachers. We have seen that, on account of the scarcity of funds, he was obliged to rely upon students to do the work of instructing the children committed to his care. The young theologians made use of this opportunity as a stepping-stone to their future calling, the ministry, and Francke, perceiving this, sought to secure the most pious and gifted among his theological students for this work. He also established a pedagogical class (_Pedagogium_). After two years' membership therein, the student was allowed to teach provided he pledged himself to devote three years to teaching in the schools. This class met once a week for criticism and discussion under the leadership of the inspector of the school, and the various inspectors met Francke every evening for further instruction. The results soon attracted widespread notice, and created a great demand for Francke's teachers. Although this was very crude pedagogical training, it may be regarded as the inception of the normal school, which has now come to be an essential part of every educational system.
=The Real-school.=--A third service is credited by many to Francke, namely, the founding of the _Real-school_[120] of Germany. The best authorities give that credit to Professor Erhard Weigel of Jena. Whether or not the idea originated with Francke, he was ready to accept the necessity of such a change, and founded schools for higher learning in which Greek and Latin were not required, and in which more attention was given to modern languages and science.
[116] Rein's "Encyklopädisches Handbuch," Vol. II, p. 336.
[117] The _Privat Docent_ is the first step in the professor's career in the German university. He is allowed to lecture in the university, but receives no pay except fees from the students who hear him.
[118] K. Schmidt, "Geschichte der Pädagogik," Vol. III, p. 462.
[119] See Rein, "Encyklopädisches Handbuch," Vol. II, p. 348.
[120] The _Real-school_ is the great rival of the _Gymnasium_ in Germany. The latter is the old established school which bases culture on the _Humanities_,--the classic languages, and literature. The _Real-school_ is more modern and gives greater attention to the _Realities_,--to things of practical utility. Precedence is given to the modern languages, sciences, and arts. While the chief purpose of the _Gymnasium_ is to prepare for the learned professions, that of the _Real-school_ is to prepare for practical life. The relation of these two institutions to each other and to the university led to the _Berlin Conference_ in 1890, at which it clearly appeared that the younger is outstripping the older and more conservative institution. See Russell, "German Higher Schools."