The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-10-24
EDUCATION IN FRANCE.


It is sixty-three years since Napoleon
l organized France, and thought to see order
rise Immediately out of confusion. He
/ founded universities and high-schools; but
during all his reign only $3.50 were appro-
/ pTiated for primary schools. He did not
! begin at The foundation. In 1903 not half
the villages in France hal any spcies OF
! primary schools.
! AT the restoration, in 1916, $4,000 were
! decreed, and something done toward organ
ling committees, and a minister Of public
instruction was appointed. In 1929 the
sum was increased TO $50, 000. and in 1880
to 10000
At this time. just before the Revolution,
something pretending to be school was es-
tablished in nearly tWo-thirds Of the com
muaes, but with no provision for pe1ma-
tneHcy. Thesewas no school-house, and no
( land upon which to build one The chill
dren assembled in barn or stable, or in
some hovel where the teachers family
cooked, slept, and others were born. Or if
some place was reserved for this purpose, it
was cold, damp, and dark, without window
or fire, or seats, and the teacher sold rum
and tobacco in the next room, and was often
intoxicated.
THIS was the importance attached to pri-
mary instruction only thirty years ago. Il
is not strange that France had no solid foun
dalton, and that she is ever lettering. Dur
ing the eight years previous to 1861 there
was no report concerning public instruction
because the Government could not afford it.
Such affairs cannot be intrusted to the peo-
pie themselves in the different departments,
Z hor Il
having been trained to any intellectual
labor.
In 1888 a system was organized, and
100000 appropriated to establish perma-
nent schools. and teachers salaries fixed at
forty dollars year. Since the appropria-
ton has been increased to little more than
eight millions and half, which includes
the sum devoted to normal schools, rent and
repairs to school houses, salaries of inspec-
tors, delegates, paper upon which reports
are made. and every possible item of ex-
pense. OF this sum $5OO.O0O is spent for
Paris, which has population of nearly two
millions.
Schools for girls were not consldered i'm
portant, and not established for several
years after those for boys. and even now
no law requires the commuues to sustain
them. Where they exist they are taught
/ by nuns, and all the influence Of the clergy
is given to retain them under their super
vision.
In public school of four hundred boys
in Paris, there will be seen one teacher and
one assistant. How thoroughly they mus
be taught When they come TO enter the
army. good deal more pains is taken tc
teach them to murder ard destroy.
Girls are considered sufficiently educated
who know how to read and write, and per
form sums in the first few rules of arithme.
tic. They have no knowledge of geography
even of France. or history, except few dry
sentences about the splendor of kings
courts, and conquests, and though in al
the schools of every description four mil
lions are registered as attending. not two
thirds of this number actually go, and still
a large proportion only attend a few week
in winter
Let those who know the statistics con
corning SCHOOLS in America make compar
ison, which we think will not lead them t
prefer an empire to a republic CorrespOn
dent " Y. Independent