real school
nounUK /ˈrɪəl ˌskuːl/ · US /ˈril ˌskul/
Etymology Calque of German Realschule, from real (“real”) + Schule (“school”), from the view that classical education at Gymnasia was not fit for the real world.
1
Historical A secondary school (especially in German-speaking countries) teaching a curriculum of "real-world" subjects (math, science, modern languages) rather than one heavily laden with literature, Latin, and Ancient Greek.
- The duke of Brunswick... has caused real schools, in contra-distinction to verbal, to be erected at Brunswick.1765, Johann Gottlob Krueger, An Essay on the Education of Children, page 65:
- Realschulen, real schools... because they are less occupied with the study of languages (Verbalia) than with the knowledge of things (Realia).1833 July, W. Hamilton, Edinburgh Review, page 521:
1 more example
- Like a Real School, real research is recognized as the genuine article, and persons engaged with it garner status and power.2002, Educational Researcher, number 31, page 27:
- Synonyms
- Realgymnasium, Reformrealgymnasium, realshule