Recruitment and Training of Public Officials in Germany
| Date | 01 July 1931 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9299.1931.tb02895.x |
| Published date | 01 July 1931 |
| Author | May L. Dhonau |
Recruitment
and
Training
of
Public
Officials
in Germany
By
MAY
L.
DHONAU
[Paper
to
be
discussed
at
the Summer Conference of the Institute
of
Public Administration
,
July
,
19311
F
in
recent years the problem
of
the recruitment and training
of
I
public officials has been receiving considerable attention
in
England, it is not surprising
to
find
that
this
is also the case
in
Ger-
many, where under post-war conditions it has attained
a
particular
degree
of
importance. Here, indeed, the treatment
of
the problem
has passed the initial stages
of
discussion.
Already before the war there were isolated attempts on the part
of
some authorities and groups
of
officials
to
improve the educational
standard
of
public officials and the facilities provided for their train-
ing.
Such attempts have since the war become
so
widespread and
systematized as to deserve the name of a movement. It was not
enough
that
officials should regain their former routine. The revolu-
tion
brought with it fundamental changes in the relation
of
officials
to the State and the public, while the legislation
of
the Republic has
imposed on them ever-increasing tasks. One
of
the peculiarities
of
the post-war period has been the constant imposition by Reich and
Lands
of
fresh obligatory functions upon the local authorities. The
latter have themselves realised the importance
of
better training for
their officials and
with
regard to one large group at least have taken
the initiative
in
providing it. In this they were not actuated solely
by philanthropy and public spirit, although these undoubtedly played
their part. While the tasks of administration grow, the resources
of
the local authorities have become increasingly inelastic and are
strained to the uttermost. The problem of administrative reform has
become
a
question
of
public interest and
of
lively
if
not always well-
informed controversy.
It
is
not enough,
so
it is maintained, that
reforms should be made in organisation and material equipment. In
addition
,
the efficiency
of
the
officials themselves must be increased.
Local authorities, incited
by
the stringency
of
their resources and the
force
of
public opinion, have begun
to
think in terms not only
of
263
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