Dr. Kellermann, when interviewed by a CRIMSON reporter, gave some interesting side-lights on the method of training the German youths.
"Since the war," he declared, "the new German generation has been far less physically fit than the youth of previous generations. I blame this on the influence of the War. Because of this a system has been established in Germany whereby, a teacher must take his students, between the age of six and 19 for an eight-hour hike once each month."
Dr. Kellermann pointed out the fact that the German teacher must have a great deal more training than the American instructor. In order to obtain a life position as an elementary school teacher, the German must have 19 years of training, and in order to become a high school instructor, he must have 21 years of training. The average number of years that a German professor teaches is 25. The American instructor, however, has an average period of only six years.
"Is there more freedom in the modern German school system than in the old?" Asked Dr. Kellermann in concluding his lecture. "The answer is decidedly yes, but we follow the word of Nietzsche, our greatest champion of liberty who said: "Strictest mental discipline is the first condition for the formation of a free personality."
When asked about the Youth movement, Dr. Kellermann stated "it began in 1900 and was a revolt of the youth against over-stressed conventionalities, and against drinking and duelling of students: against the haughtiness of the rich, the cold severe discipline in the schools, and the feelingless sermons in the Church. These youths desired more feeling, more joy, and more creative activism of their own instead of being dominated by the conventions of their elders. Unfortunately, this movement is fast dying away. Old leaders dominate the organization together with communists and politicians, and the spirit and enthusiasm of youth is lacking."
Dr. Kellermann, who is one of the foremost authorities on German drama, was asked concerning its place in modern literature.
"The German dramatists are expressionistic," he said, "and the influence of their expressionism is rapidly spreading. It has already reached England and France, and is now being introduced in the United States. Foremost among the expressionistic dramatists are Unruh Toller, Werfel, who has a play now running in New York, and Bronnen, Kaiser, and Brecht. Their aim is to make the world better. They are anti-militaristic, anti-capitalistic, anti-church, and anti-state, but by no means anarchistic."
As to Germany's position in the modern scientific world. Dr. Kellermann stated: "We are less practical, but more theoretical: we have no Edisons, but we have our Einsteins."