Figure 1.--This is a Croatian state primary school in a village near Zagreb. I am not sure when the photograph was taken, but believe it was in the mid-1930s. Notice that none of the children are wearing traditional styles that were still being worn in rural areas before World War I.

Croatia was once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and then after World War I part of Yugoslavia. Part of Crotia was awarded to Italy as part of the World War I peace settlement. We have some information on a school at Parenzo when it was part of Italy. Yugoslavia was invaded by the Germand (1941). Yugoslavia succeeded and for 3 years was a quasi-independent German puppet. Croatia was returned to Yugoslavia after the War. Tito supressed nationalist seniment. This reemerged after his death. Croatia in the 1990s fought a war for independence from Yugoslavia and is now an independent country. We have little information on Croatian schools at this time. The years as part of the Austro-Hungariam Empire left Croatian education with a strong German influence. We are less sure about the impact of four decades of Communist roles. The modern school system includes primary andc secondary schools. Primary schooling included two stages. The first stage was grades 1-4 and then 5-8. Secondary schooling before World War Ii was primarily for childreb from affluent or middle-class childrem. After the War as in other European countries, the sevondary school system was significantly expanded. The secondary system has several options: grammar schools (gymnasium), vocational schools and art schools. This was similar to the system in Germany. The grammar schools include schools with various emphasis, including general, mathematics and IT, linguistic, classical and scientific schools. There are different programs at these schools. Vocational schools offer courses lasting 1-4 years. Students could leave as early as age 15 years. There was a period of practical instruction. The arts schools vary and included: music, dance, visual art and design. Secondary students have to pass an entrance examination to enter university in professional fields. A State Secondary School Leaving Examination was introduced 2008/9 for grammar schools, and 2009/10 for 4-year vocational schools. It was designed to replace the entrance examination at most higher (tertiary) education institutions. We have few details about different types of schools suring both the Austrian period and Yugoslav royal period. The Communists closed private and relgious schools. We do not know if they have been restablished in modern independent Croatia.

Chronology

Croatian has gome through many historical changes which significatly affected the educational system. Croatia was once part of the Hungarian Kingdom. After the Ottoman defeaft of the Hynarians, (16th century), it became the frontier betwen Christaian and Muslim Europe. It became part of the Austrian Hapsburg Empire. Public schools beganto appear in the 19th century, but we know very little about schools in Croatia. We are not sure at this time what impact the Imperial Austrian Government has on the school system, including the use of Serb-Croatian in the schools.After the Prussian victory in Austro-Prussian War (1866), Croatia became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After World War I, Crotia became part of Yugoslavia. During the Royal Yugoslav period, the Croatians had much more control over the schools. We are unsure just what the Federal role was. As part of the Empire, Croatia education ws heavily influenced by Austrian (German) norms. We are not ure to what extent the Crotin language was used in education. Part of Croatia with an Italian population was awarded to Italy as part of the World War I peace settlement. The Italians were disatisfied with the award. We have some information on a school at Parenzo when it was part of Italy. Yugoslavia was invaded by the Germans (1941) and them occupied by the Axis powers, primarily Germany and Italy. School was free at ghe primary leve, but we know little about secodary schools. Yugoslavia seceeded and for 3 years was a quasi-independent German puppet. Croatia was returned to Yugoslavia after the War. Tito supressed nationalist seniment. Educational policy was set at the national or federal level. Communist countries generally placed considerable emphasis on education although there was considerable indoctrination rather than instruction. Nationalist sentiment surfaced after Tito's death. Croatia in the 1990s fought a bitter civil war for independence from the Serb-controlled Yugoslav federation and was subsequently involved in the Bosnian War. It is now an independent country. with its own national educational system. Primary and secondry education continued to be virtually free. The Ministry of Education also funds public universities.

Influences

We have little information on Croatian schools at this time. The years as part of the Austro-Hungariam Empire left Croatian education with a strong German influence. We are less sure about the impact of four decades of Communist roles.

Levels

The modern school system includes primary andc secondary schools. Primary schooling included two stages. The first stage was grades 1-4 and then 5-8. Secondary schooling before World War Ii was primarily for childreb from affluent or middle-class childrem. After the War as in other European countries, the sevondary school system was significantly expanded. The secondary system has several options: grammar schools (gymnasium), vocational schools and art schools. This was similar to the system in Germany. The grammar schools include schools with various emphasis, including general, mathematics and IT, linguistic, classical and scientific schools. There are different programs at these schools. Vocational schools offer courses lasting 1-4 years. Students could leave as early as age 15 years. There was a period of practical instruction. The arts schools vary and included: music, dance, visual art and design. Secondary students have to pass an entrance examination to enter university in professional fields. A State Secondary School Leaving Examination was introduced 2008/9 for grammar schools, and 2009/10 for 4-year vocational schools. It was designed to replace the entrance examination at most higher (tertiary) education institutions.

Garments

We have very limited information on school wear garments in Crostia. Our Croatian archive is very limited. We believe that traditional garments were very common in rural primary schools through World war I. Croatia at the time was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. More standard European styles were prevalent in the cities. Major changes appear to have ocurred both duriung and after the War. After the War, Croatia became part of Yugoslsvia in a federation with Serbia and other Balkan areas. Our archive is limited, but by the 1930s, traditioinal styles seem to have largely disappeared even in rural areas. Some traditionl styles appear to have opersisted more in areas of Serbia. We see Croatian children wearing garments similar to popular styles in Austria, although a factor here was Croatia and other parts of Yugoslvia were not as prosperous as Austria.

Types of Schools

We have few details about different types of schools suring both the Austrian period and Yugoslav royal period. Presumably there was a military academy. We notice priests in school portaits, but are unsure if these are Catholics schools or state schools where the priests came to give religious instruction. Croatia before World war II was a largely Catholic country with Orthodox, Jewish, amd Muslim minorities. We are unsure what provision, if any, was made for the religious minoroties in the state schools. Another issue was the fact that at the Federal level, Orthodox Serbs were a majority and the monsrvhy was Orthodox. The Communists closed private and relgious schools when they seized power at the end of World War II (1945). We do not know if either private schools or religious schools have been restablished in modern independent Croatia.

School Uniforms

We have little information on school uniforms at this time. We know nothing about the Austrian period. During the Royal Yugoslav period we do not see uniforms in the primary schools. We do not know about the secondary schools. We think the Communists introduced uniforms, but have few details at this time.

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