Matura examination (Germany)

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The matriculation examination (examination "pro maturitate") was from about 1820 to about 1900 a test for school leavers (= high school graduates) from schools that are on a " university (not on another" College ) to enroll and study wanted ( "departure - and moral certificate ”). After 1820, the examination became mandatory in all states of the German Confederation for the study of certain "state-related" professional courses ( state and church service) introduced. A certificate of this examination (Matura certificate) was not a prerequisite for admission to study or university entrance; the certificate only had to be submitted (“at the latest”) for all state exams . The examination could therefore also be taken in front of a dedicated commission at the university. At the end of the 19th century the examination - Germanized - was only referred to as the maturity examination (certificate of maturity) and continued as the Abitur examination (Abitur certificate) at the end of the 20th century .

Those aspirates who either

  1. expressly do not become a public servant ("learned civil and church service") or
  2. did not want to receive government grants (at that time: beneficien, mensa gratuita = free meals or similar benefits),

did not need to submit a certificate when enrolling .

Matura exams were not only available at high school (for graduation from university). Later one also called the leaving exams at the Realschulen (these were not today's Realschulen, but the later Realgymnasien and Oberrealschulen) Maturitätprüfung, whose graduates a construction school, mining or forestry academy, a polytechnic, etc. Ä. wanted to visit.

In Austria and Switzerland , the term Matura or Matur has been retained for the successful Abitur examination.

The regulation of the Matura examination

The regulation on the details of the test was mostly made in provisions referred to as regulations or similar.

Personal scope

The regulation concerned:

  1. Students of a (domestic or foreign) high school, and also
  2. those who had not attended school but had been prepared by private tutors. This test was
(a) only required for university studies; this did not apply to other universities. Another requirement was that the student
(b ) aimed to study for three or four years ( triennium or quadriennium).

The examination did not have to take place until after 1835 before leaving the university.

Purpose of the test

The purpose of this test was to determine whether the high school graduate had achieved the level of schooling required to be able to dedicate himself to studying a particular scientific subject with benefit and success. This only refers to the subjects offered "at the university" (subjects from technical universities, mining academies, commercial colleges, etc. were not included).

The history of the Matura examination

precursor

There was no precursor to this type of test. This was also not necessary because up until the first half of the 19th century the view was held that the state did not intervene in the (legal) relationship between the legal guardians of a child (father or guardian) on the one hand and the university on the other (or other " high “schools, the unifying term universities did not yet exist) may interfere. Therefore, it depended on the fathers or other legal guardians (guardians) whether they considered a child to be mature (e.g. after private lessons by a private tutor) or whether the university wanted to make sure that a candidate was fit for study. Since the universities were legally independent corporations (and not state institutions as later), they determined the entry or admission requirements. Also the often cited Prussian regulations of December 23, 1788 ( Rescript ) and of June 25, 1812 ( Instruction - expressly confirmed by the royal edict of October 12, 1812) - did not write a school leaving examination, high school graduation examination or a Matura certificate for the students leaving the university, although z. For example, the Prussian state claimed legislative competence for this (“Universities are an event of the state”, General Land Law for the Prussian States of 1794, Part Two, Title Twelve, Section 1).

Such tests were only carried out after the murder of August von Kotzebue (March 23, 1819) and the anti-Jewish Hep-Hep riots that sometimes lasted for months (beginning: August 2, 1819 in Würzburg) as a result of the Karlovy Vary resolutions (August 31, 1819) and the subsequent provisional resolution on the measures to be taken by the Bundestag of the German Confederation of September 20, 1819 to prevent further "politicization" of students and professors ( dangerous teachers and secret connections ) in almost all of the 1820s and 1830s German countries introduced. This decision also did not make the Matura examination mandatory. As before, “young people who were found immature” could study at the university, but - according to the regulations - they no longer received scholarships. Secondary and tertiary students continued to be accepted at the universities, and the awarding of scholarships also seemed to have been rather “relaxed” in practice. The graduate regulations appeared to experienced contemporaries to be dazzling .

The Electorate of Hesse (Hesse-Kassel, State University in Marburg ) in 1819 and the Grand Duchy of Hesse (Hesse-Darmstadt, State University in Gießen ) in 1825: Elector Wilhelm I (Electorate of Hesse) committed to the laws for the students of the University of Marburg these, in order to gain the matriculation and through them the academic citizenship, ... the Matura certificate of his previous teachers ... to teach or to submit to an examination beforeCollegio scholarcharum . A few months later he ordered his state university in Marburg for state-related professions not to grant any subject ... [who] wanted to study theology, jurisprudence, medicine or cameral sciences without presenting a ... formal certificate of maturity from any public high school enroll. (In 1828 the subjects of political science , philosophy and philology were added).

  • Afterwards there were those who did not intend to be employed in the civil service anytime soon and did not want to devote themselves exclusively to one of the four subjects mentioned ... e. B. Economists, surgeons, foresters of a lesser kind, pharmacists, veterinary surgeons, riders and the like. Released from the obligation of submitting a Matura certificate, unless they apply for financial deficits or free meals , which should not otherwise be awarded to them .
  • Even those who wanted to study in the Philosophical Faculty did not necessarily need a Matura certificate: Pupils who had not (passed) the Matura exam or people who only wanted to attend individual lectures for their general education or because of a special training could enroll here and study ( artist faculty , admission with small matriculation ). Those who did not seek public employment in the future were exempt from submitting a certificate.

Almost all states of the German Confederation followed until 1834, such as the Grand Duchy of Baden in 1823, Oldenburg in 1827, Hanover and Saxony in 1829, Mecklenburg in 1833 and Württemberg . After 1835, the German states gradually tightened university access and made submission of a Matura certificate a prerequisite for enrollment. The increasing financial needs of universities and the recognition of other “high” schools as academic institutions (e.g. technical colleges, mining, forestry, etc.) in the second half of the 19th century also promoted state influence.

Matura examination only for state exams

In Prussia, on the basis of the Education Act provided for in Art. 26 of the constitutional document of 1850, a draft by the Education Minister Adalbert von Ladenberg was drawn up , but this was not implemented. In the draft, enrollment was regulated in §§ 222–228. Section 223 provides two requirements for enrollment, firstly a certificate of maturity issued by a domestic (= Prussian) grammar school and secondly, permission from the father or guardian to study at the university concerned. This was only true for those who wanted to devote themselves to theology, jurisprudence and political science, medicine and surgery, philology or any other profession that required university education. The German Reich , founded in 1871, did not change anything in the previous regulations of the federal states, because the teaching and university affairs remained the responsibility of the federal states (at that time already the cultural sovereignty of the states). Accordingly, the word Abitur hardly appears at all in the official writings before 1945, but the word Abitur graduates (= graduates) does. That wasn't necessary, because the Abitur (or, more precisely: the successful Abitur examination, then still: the maturity examination or in Bavaria: the grammar school absolutorial examination) was about admission to state exams, not university entrance. The secondary school leaving examination entitled to unrestricted study in all subjects at the university, that of the Realgymnasium generally only entitled to study the subjects of the Faculty of Economics and Natural Sciences and Modern Languages ​​and History at the Faculty of Philosophy (but that differed from university to university ). The university often offered Latin courses that could lead to the acquisition of a small or large Latinum , then it was possible to study almost all subjects (except theology). Accordingly, there was also a high school diploma from the (ten-class) high school ; however, it only entitle them to study in the Faculty of Natural Sciences (from 1899, after a supplementary examination in Latin, to study in the Faculty of Philosophy). From 1904 the monopoly of the grammar school on studying all subjects was lifted (exception: knowledge of ancient languages ​​for studies in theology and ancient philology ). Up to 10% of male students (at the twelve Prussian universities) still did not have a school-leaving exam (chemists, economists, pharmacists, dentists) in 1908/09 ( women studies in 1908 , but only with the approval of the minister).

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ In Prussia: § 2 of the regulations issued on June 4, 1834 for the examination of students going to universities
  2. ^ Maria Rosa di Simone: Admission to the University. In: Walter Rüegg (Ed.): History of the University in Europe, Volume II - From the Reformation to the French Revolution 1500–1800. C. H. Beck, Munich 1996, ISBN 3-406-36956-1 , p. 235 ff. ( Limited preview in the Google book search).
  3. ↑ No. II Rescript to the magistrates and inspectors of the Churmark, in which they are aware of the edict of December 23, 1788, issued with regard to the students going to the universities and the Churmärk Higher Consistory, because of the examination of these, also the collation of scholarships and other beneficiaries is made on January 8, 1789, in: Novum Corpus Constitutionum Prussico-Brandenburgensium Praecipue Marchicarum (NCC) VIII (= Volume 8) Col. 2376 ff. (= image: 8 of 237) ; also reprinted by Paul Schwarz: The Prussian Schools of Academics under the Oberschulkollegium (1787–1806) and the Abitur exam , II. The introduction of the Abitur exam (Monumenta Germaniae Paedagogica, Volume XLVI) Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, Berlin 1910, A. Regulations for the examination of scholars Schools, p. 122 - B. Regulations for the Examination at Universities, p. 128
  4. ^ Department for Cult and Public Education in the Ministry of the Interior: Instruction of June 25, 1812 . In: Friedrich Schultze (Ed.): The high school graduation exams, primarily in the Prussian state, A. Urkunden-Sammlung, Eduard Anton, Halle 1831, p. 7 ( digitized in the Google book search)
  5. ↑ Edict on the examination of students going to the universities . In: Friedrich Schultze (Hrsg.): The high school graduation exams, mainly in the Prussian state, A. Document collection, Eduard Anton, Halle 1831, p. 6 ( digitized in the Google book search)
  6. ↑ II 12 § 1 ALR from 1794 ( digitized in the Google book search)
  7. ^ Provisional resolution on the measures to be taken with regard to the universities . In: Philipp Anton Guido von Meyer: The basic laws of the German Confederation or German Federal and Final Acts, united according to the order of the Federal Acts; in addition to the most important territorial regulations and the organic laws of the federal government. Ferdinand Boselli, Frankfurt 1845 ( decision of September 20, 1819, XXXV. Session, § 220 p. 65 f. In the Google book search)
  8. ↑ Common rules of measure regarding universities and other teaching and educational institutions in Germany . In: Philipp Anton Guido von Meyer: The basic laws of the German Confederation or German Federal and Final Acts, united according to the order of the Federal Acts; in addition to the most important territorial regulations and the organic laws of the federal government . Ferdinand Boselli, Frankfurt 1845 ( decision of November 13, 1834, XXXIXth session, § 546, p. 66, footnote 1 in the Google book search)
  9. ^ Wolfgang Neugebauer: The education system in Prussia since the middle of the 17th century. In: Otto Büsch (Hrsg.): Handbuch der Prussischen Geschichte, Volume II: The 19th Century and Great Subjects of Prussian History , B. Great Subjects of Prussian History No. III., De Gruyter, 1992 p. 635 ff., ISBN 3-11-008322-1
  10. ^ Ordinance on the examination of the maturity for the purpose of academic studies. dated January 19, 1825, Grand Ducal Hessian Government Gazette (No. 3) Darmstadt 1825, pp. 23–26 ( http://mdz-nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:12-bsb10510153-5 ) and 1832: § 3 of the ordinance, attendance at grammar school, the Matura exams and the relationship with the university re. No. 1920 of October 1, 1832 (published October 17, 1832), archive of the Grand Ducal Hessian laws and ordinances, published under the direction of the ministries , Volume Six, from January 1832 through the end of 1834; Published by the Großherzoglichen Invalidenanstalt, Darmstadt 1838, pp. 359-369 ( digitized in the Google book search)
  11. ↑ § 2 No. 1 of the laws for students at the University of Marburg from December 10, 1819: Matura certificate or examination before Collegio scholarcharumin: Collection of laws, ordinances, announcements and other general orders for Kurhessen from 1819. Court and Waisenhaus-Druckerei, Cassel, kurhess GS 1819, p. 83, http://mdz-nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:12-bsb10510153-5
  12. ↑ § 6 Paragraph 1 of the ordinance of April 11, 1820, concerning the certificates of maturity for academic studies. In: Wilhelm Möller and Karl Fuchs (eds.): Collection of the legal provisions still valid in the Electorate of Hesse from 1813 to 1866. Elwert'sche Universitäts-Buchhandlung, Marburg and Leipzig 1866, pp. 255 f. ( Digitized in the Google book search)
  13. ^ Announcement from the State Ministry, dated September 25, 1828, because of the provision of certificates of maturity for academic studies. In: Collection of laws, ordinances, tenders and other general orders for Kurhessen from 1828, Hof- und Waisenhaus-Druckerei, Cassel, kurhess GS 1828, p. 40 ( https://books.google.de/books?id= 2CtGAAAAcAAJ & hl = de & pg = RA1-PA40 # v = onepage & q & f = false )
  14. ^ Collection of laws, ordinances, tenders and other general orders for Kurhessen from 1820 Hof- und Waisenhaus-Druckerei, Cassel, kurhess GS 1820, p. 49 f. ( Digitized in the Google book search); also in: Wilhelm Möller, Karl Fuchs (Hrsg.): Collection of the legal provisions still valid in the Electorate of Hesse from 1813 to 1860. Elwert'sche Universitäts-Buchhandlung, Marburg / Leipzig 1866, pp. 255 f.
  15. ↑ Otto Benecke , foreword to the 2nd edition of studies without a secondary school leaving certificate in Prussia - official regulations Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, Berlin 1925, p. 1 f.
  16. ↑ Announcement of the State Ministry, because of the submission of certificates of maturity for academic studies from September 25, 1828. In: Collection of laws, ordinances, announcements and other general orders for Kurhessen from the year 1828. Hof- und Waisenhaus-Druckerei, Cassel 1828, P. 40 ( digitized version in the Google book search)
  17. ^ General German real encyclopedia for the educated classes. Conversation Lexicon. Ninth original edition in fifteen volumes. Ninth volume, Matura examination in the Google book search, FA Brockhaus 1846, pp. 403–405
  18. ↑ Grand Duke. Baden ordinance on the manner in which the young people studying in Germany have to prove their qualifications before attending the university, dated May 13, 1823, Großherzoglich-Badisches Staats- und Regierungs-Blatt, 1823 (No. XIII.) P. 57– 61 ( digitized version in the Google book search); also reprinted in: Friedrich Schultze: The high school graduation exam, mainly in the Prussian State, A. Urkunden-Sammlung, Liegnitz and Halle 1831, p. 137 ( digitized in the Google book search)
  19. ^ Consitorial announcement on the maturity exams of the local youths leaving for the academy of September 3, 1827; Reprinted in: Friedrich Schultze: The high school graduation examination, primarily in the Prussian state, A. Urkunden-Sammlung, Liegnitz and Halle, Regulations for the maturity examinations of February 20, 1830, 1831 p. 217 ( digitized in the Google book search)
  20. ↑ Köngl. Hannov. Ordinance on the promotion of the most careful education possible for students from Germany, and on the achievement of this purpose, maturity examinations to be introduced from Sept. 11, 1829. In: Collection of laws, ordinances and announcements for the Kingdom of Hanover, dated 1829, hann GS 1829 P. 111 ( digitized version in the Google book search); Instruction for the execution of the royal. Ordinance of September 11, 1829. on the promotion of the most thorough education possible for students from Germany and on the maturity examinations to be introduced to achieve this purpose of November 30, 1829, hann GS 1829 p. 213 ( digitized in the Google book search)
  21. ↑ Royal. Saxon. Mandate relating to the preparation of young people for university from Jul. 4, 1829, also printed in: Friedrich Schultze: The Abiturienten -prüfung, primarily in the Prussian State, A. Urkunden-Sammlung, Liegnitz and Halle 1831, p. 228 ( digitized in the google book search)
  22. ^ Wilhelm Schrader (Provincial School Council in Königsberg): Permissions. In: KA (= Karl Adolf) Schmid (Hrsg.): Encyclopedia of the entire education and teaching system. First volume, 2nd edition. Rudolf Besser, Gotha 1876, p. 573 ff.
  23. ↑ Ignaz Jastrow gives a legal historical overview of the entitlements of the school leaving certificate and the right of the minister of education in Prussia to allow exceptions : The right of the school leaving certificate - a forgotten corner of Prussian administrative law. In: Legal weekly. (JW) 1925, p. 14 ff.
  24. ↑ Ministry of Spiritual, Educational and Medicinal Affairs (ed.): Legislation in the field of teaching in Prussia from 1817 to 1868 - pieces of files with explanations. Wilhelm Hertz - Bessersche Buchhandlung, Berlin 1869, pp. 162 ff. [185]
  25. ↑ This does not mean those who graduated from high school , but those who left school.
  26. ^ Friedrich Kluge : Etymological dictionary of the German language 22nd edition. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin 1989, Lemma Abitur : matriculation examination, leaving examination, so actually : examination for those who want to leave (from school to university ).
  27. ^ Sylvia Paletschek : The permanent invention of a tradition: The University of Tübingen in the German Empire and in the Weimar Republic. Franz Steiner Verlag, Stuttgart (Habil. -schrift 1997) 2001, ISBN 3-515-07254-3 , p. 123 ff.