The salary range for upper elementary school teachers (Hauptschullehrer) has moved from a beginning 1,221 schillings to 1,425 schillings. The median salary is now 3,250 schillings in contrast with last year's 2,178 schillings. Upper elementary school teachers in service 34 years or more would be paid 4,900 schillings per month; 1955's salary was 3,300 schillings. Principals range in salary, according to the size of their schools, from 1,525 schillings to 5,000 schillings monthly.54

Conditions of service. In the lower and upper elementary school there has been a noticeable decrease in teaching load since 1945, through the adding of more teachers to the staffs of these schools. However, during the past year, the number of lower elementary school pupils has begun to decline, while an upturn appears in the statistics of pupil populations in the upper elementary school. The present ratio is approximately 31 pupils per teacher in the lower elementary classes, and 25 per teacher in the upper elementary grades. In 1945, the ratio in the lower elementary school was 46 pupils per teacher, and in the upper grades, 35. The present ratio was recommended in 1948 at the first Assembly of Provincial School Administrators and the new salary law also insisted that teaching load be reduced.55

Hours of teaching in the lower elementary school are 26-30 per week, in the upper elementary school, 21-28. Service hours (including extracurricular activities which are becoming increasingly important-faculty advising for student government, student publications, sports activities (skiing), excursions, book-club, theater for youth, etc.) over and above the legal limit must be compensated for. Reimbursement for additional service hours is called "overtime," according to new regulations of October 1, 1954.56

Teachers' activities outside of school hours which are not illegal, or harmful to their professional status, are permitted, and even encouraged. Thus, elementary teachers are permitted to teach evening school, or even extra classes during the day, in addition to their regular

54 Ibid., p. 749.

5 Hans Spreitzer, op. cit., p. 93.

Verguetung von Mehrdienstzeiten fuer die Lehrer an Pflichtschulen und Mittleren Lehranstalten. Neufestsetzung ab 1. Oktober 1954, Erlass vom September 1954, Z. 66. 515-IV/20/54. Verordnungsblatt fuer den Dieustbereich des Bundesministeriums fuer Unterricht, Wien, Jahrgang 1954. p. 154.

work, provided they have notified and received permission from the school authorities.57

Political activity of the Austrian teacher has been traditionally encouraged. All teachers are given sabbatical leave (with full pay) if they are elected to the provincial or national legislatures.58

Social Security, Pensions, and Retirement.-Teachers at all levels, in both public and private schools, are compulsorily insured for health and hospitalization. In case of illness, teachers on contract receive full salary for a period varying from 6 weeks to 6 months, depending on length of service, and, then, half salary for an equivalent time. Thereafter, they are paid from the insurance fund to a maximum of 75 percent of their salary. Contributions to the state-controlled insurance fund are deducted, like taxes, at source. Teachers on tenure and administrators pay 4.4 percent of their monthly salary; teachers "on contract" (temporary), pay 7.5 percent and 9.25 percent, depending on terms and length of service. In all cases the state contributes half. Foreign teachers, permitted to teach in private schools only, are subject to these same insurance regulations. Maternity benefits are included in the hospitalization plan, and leaves are granted, varying from 6 to 14. weeks. A leave of 8 to 12 weeks is granted in case of premature birth, upon presentation of a physician's certificate.59

Vacation homes, or Teachers' Country Homes, are often sponsored by teachers' organizations. Housing developments for "academics," including teachers has been undertaken by the University Women's Association in Vienna.

Teachers on tenure are entitled to retire after 10 years of service, if disabled, while temporary teachers incurring a disability may retire after having paid in 180 monthly contributions to the pension fund. The retirement age for men is 65; for women 60.60

The pension is calculated on the basis of 78.3 percent of the last salary. Teachers receive 40 percent of this basis after 10 years of service,

57 Nachrechnung von Vordienstzeiten fuer die Bemessung des Ruhe (Versorgungs) genusses: Durchfuerhrungsbestimmungen, Erlass vom 17. Jaenner 1950. A. 6580-Pr. II/50. Verordnungsblatt fuer den Dienstbereich des Bundesministeriums fuer Unterricht, Jahrgang 1950, Wien, 3. Stueck. p. 87-44.

58 Primary School Teachers' Salaries, UNESCO, op. cit.,

p.

78.

A.42.514-IV/PR/47.

50 Schwangerschafts und Stillurlaub, Erlass vom 9. Jaenner 1948, Verordnungsblatt fuer den Dienstbereich des Bundesministeriums fuer Unterrich, Jahrgang 1948, Wien, 2. Stueck. p. 17.

00 Primary Teachers' Salaries, UNESCO, op. cit., p. 78.

and 2 percent for each year of service thereafter. They reach their maximum after 40 years of service. In 1953, the minimum paid to a temporary teacher (Vertragslehrer) was 411 schillings (approximately $16.40); the maximum, 1,220 schillings ($48.80). Teachers on tenure (pragmatisiert) contribute 4 percent of their salary to the pension fund, teachers on contract pay 5 percent of their salary. The Government matches these payments.61

Teachers' organizations with their special committees on salaries are responsible for many of the salary improvements. While Austrian elementary teachers share, in common with teachers of other lands, the view that they are underpaid for the services they perform, their social position is very good. In the rural communities, in particular, their rank is equal only to that of the local clergy and political representatives of the people. The equalization of salaries on the merit and experience basis, the lifting of the level of teacher-training schools to that of other secondary schools with permission to attend the universities, has aided in giving the profession its present high "Berufsethos" (professional morale and self-ideal).

Vertrauensmann (Salary Schedule), op. cit., p. 62-64.

Chapter IV. The Teacher in

Austrian Secondary Schools

Introduction. In spite of seemingly overwhelming odds which the Austrian secondary school system suffered both during the Nazi occupation and World War II, the story of secondary education in Austria since 1945 is one of triumph for the democratic principle of extension of educational opportunity. The 77,158 secondary school pupils in 1954-55 represent a 20 percent increase over the prewar enrollment.1 A wider sampling of social classes is also apparent. Vocational schools, on lower secondary level, and apprenticeships continue to absorb the major proportion of Austrian youth.

An inquiry into the status and needs of the secondary school, held in the spring of 1955 at the Ministry of Education in Vienna disclosed that the secondary school building program has not kept pace with the expanding school population. This situation is in sharp contrast with the elementary school construction activity. Instead of the enthusiasm witnessed in almost every community at the end of the war, where the citizens rebuilt their elementary schools-in many cases-with their own hands, the reconstruction of the secondary school plant remains largely a legislative and administrative matter to be initiated and directed from the Ministry of Education and provincial school boards. Organization of secondary education. The Austrian secondary school is under the immediate supervision of the provincial school boards, but ultimate control is vested in the Ministry of Education in Vienna. throughout the nine Federal lands.

The four main types of secondary school are the: (1) Gymnasium or classical secondary school which stresses Latin and Greek; (2) Realgymnasium which includes Latin, stresses mathematics, but puts more emphasis than the gymnasium on the modern language; (3) Realschool, which stresses mathematics and sciences; and (4) the Upper

1 Maria Jacot. Die Mittelschule-ein Anliegen Oesterreich, (Die auf der Grossen MittelschulEnquete am 11. Maerz 1955 in Wien Gehaltenen Referate, Sonderbeilage-der Mittelschullehrer und die Mittelschule, April Number 1955. p. 1.

school for girls (Frauenoberschule) which in addition to preparing for university admission includes in its curriculum subjects on.homemaking and child care. All offer an 8-year course based on completion of the 4-year lower elementary school. The certificate of maturity attained. on graduation from one of these schools qualifies for admission to a university or other institution of university rank. Some idea of the work of each type may be obtained from their programs of study given in tables 6, 7, and 8 which follow.

Table 6.-Plan of Studies for the Gymnasium and Realgymnasium1 [Numbers in parentheses apply to the Realgymnasium only]

187. Erlass: Neuverlautbarung der Provisorischen Lehrpläne für die Mittelschulen. (Erlass vom 12. September 1955, Z. 81.632-IV/15/55.). Verordnungsblatt für den Dienstbereich des Bundesministeriums für Unterricht. Jahrgang 1955, Wien, 15. Oktober 1955. Stück 10a. p. 8-9. At the beginning of class V the pupil elects either drawing or music as a subject of study for subsequent years.