M. DEBENEST: As regards education, did you not bring about very extensive changes?
SEYSS-INQUART: I introduced the supervision of the curriculum of the schools, and I made my influence felt in the appointment of teachers, particularly in the very numerous private schools in the Netherlands. Two-thirds of the Netherlands schools were private. I felt it necessary because in these schools there was definitely an anti-German tendency which was taught to the students. The Netherlands Education Ministry had the supervision of these matters.
M. DEBENEST: You thereby prevented a large number of clergymen from taking part in public education.
SEYSS-INQUART: I do not believe so. I ordered, or agreed to the order, that clergymen should not be heads of schools. As for clergymen who were teachers, I agreed to have their pay reduced by one-third. They were able to continue to teach with two-thirds of their income, and with the money which was saved I gave positions to 4,000 young teachers out of work.
M. DEBENEST: Talking of teachers, did you not cause the creation of a special school for teachers?
SEYSS-INQUART: No. I believe you mean courses which were given in Amersfoort or for those who volunteered for them.
M. DEBENEST: No. What I mean is those teachers who were compelled to take a course for a few months in Germany before their appointment.
SEYSS-INQUART: I do not recall the case. It might be those who were to teach German in the Netherlands schools. In that case, it is possible that I demanded that they first spend a certain time in Germany in order to be employed.
M. DEBENEST: You did, as a matter of fact, make the study of the German language in certain classes obligatory?
SEYSS-INQUART: In the 7th grade, and also in the 8th grade which I newly introduced. But at the same time, I also had instruction in the Dutch language increased in order to prove that I did not want to germanize the Dutch, but only wanted to give them an opportunity to study the German language.