Finally, for private schools that are not substitutes for public schools, such as commercial and professional schools, the laws formerly in existence still operate. * * * * * III.--The Constitution contains a number of provisions for instruction, both public and private. It provides that vocational instruction and moral and civic education shall be part of the programme of all schools. By means of vocational instruction children must be made to understand the great importance of work, for the individual as well as for society as a whole. Civic instruction must acquaint children with the rights and duties of citizens, with the organization of the German State, and with the public life of Germany. To this end, every scholar on completion of the course in compulsory education shall receive a copy of the Constitution. * * * * * Such are the provisions relative to instruction in the schools. They constitute, as compared to the former state of affairs, a considerable change. But these provisions cannot be effectively put into operation except by a series of laws on the part of the Reich as well as of the States, a process which threatens to be a long one in point of time. However, in April, 1920, the first law on this matter was passed by the National Assembly. It was the law _on the elementary school_. According to this law, primary schools must be so organized that the first four years may at the same time serve as a preparation for secondary and higher education. Every child who has successfully graduated from the highest class of the elementary school must be sufficiently prepared to enter immediately a secondary or a higher school. Public preparatory schools and public preparatory classes are abolished. As for private preparatory schools, their suppression will take place only after a sufficiently long reprieve; their complete abolition need not take place until the commencement of the school year 1929-1930; since economic difficulties prevent the earlier abolition of these schools, and means must be taken to provide for the teachers who will be deprived thus of their occupations. Private instruction is not allowed except in particular cases and can only in special circumstances be substituted for the elementary school. The law does not touch instruction and training in auxiliary classes; nor does it concern itself with the instruction of children physically or mentally diseased.