The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-08-13
EDUCATION IN EUROPE.

The "Bureau of Education" recently estab-
lished in Washington, is at work gathering sta
tistics of public and private schools in the
United States, and what the several States are
doing for the cause of education. This Bureau
as yet is only in embryo, having no power to
compel any one to furnish information. Hence
under its present organization, but little can
be expected of it. DR.. BARNARD, the Chief Of
this Bureau, is perhaps better suited for the
Office than any other man in the country, and
we have no doubt will bring the same zeal and
energy to bear upon his new undertaking, that
have ever characterized his labors in this field,
which he has been cultivating during long
lifetime.
In Europe everywhere, education is under
the immediate control of the government. The
"Minister of Public instruction" has charge of
this department, and is considered one of the
most important and influential officers of the
government. In England the higher institu-
tions of learning have always occupied great
degree of attention, and even now enjoy the
fostering care of the government, perhaps more
than is the case in any other country in Ed
rope Primary education, with few exceptions,
has been left in the hands Of private indi-
viduals Of late, however, we have observed
q growing disposition in England to an intro
duction of Public Schools, after the Prussian
model; and as soon as Parliament shall
thoroughly feel the influence Of the Reform
Bill just passed, we doubt not the education of
the lower classes will become very important
question. Thus far primary education in Eng
land is voluntary, while in Germany, Sweden,
Norway and Denmark, Switzerland and Hol-
land, it is compulsory. In Spain, Portugal,
Italy and Turkey, it is compulsory also, but
only in name. 1t is singular that the two fore
most nations of Europe, England and France,
are more backward in what pertains to the edu-
cation of the masses than almost any Of their
neighbors The Committee of the Privy Coun-
Gil England reports that in 1865, S43S schools
were inspected, having accommodation for
1,G77, SOB scholars, and attended on an average
by l,O57, 745 scholars. At the time of inspection
l,24G, O55 scholars were present. The cost to the
State was G636,806. We have no precise infor-
nation as to the number of children attending
private schools. 1t is satisfactory, however, to
know that the state of education among the lower
classes is decidedly improving; in l7G0 only
forty-cight per cent. of the population could
sign their names in the registers of marriage,
and in 1864 the proportion was seventy-two
per cent.
In France we find an analogous improve
ment. Forty or fifty years ago two-thirds Of
the population could neither read nor write,
whereas at prescott only one-third are ignorant
of the alphabet. The $3.50 communes Of
FRANCE contain 1909 primary schools, with
4,720,224 pupils. 1t was estimated that at that
time QSG4) 100000 children were receiving no
education. In the above figures are included
922,58s pupils attending 1G,Sl6private schools,
called ecoles liJres. According to the census of
1861 the entire population of France was 81
$780,
The latest official information with regard to
education in Prussia is for the year 1861. At
that time there were in existence, for popula-
ton of l8,47G, 500 inhabitants, 24,7G3 public
schools, with 3,00G,273 pupils of both sexes;
and in addition 1884 private schools, with
81 OBJ children The cost of these amounted
to 9,902 69G thalers, of which ,149, 224 thalers
were paid as salaries to teachers, and the rest
for various purposes, not including 1905, lG3
thalers spent upon school buildings. The
amount expended in salaries was provided for
thus: School fees paid by parents, 1920, 96S
thalers; sum found by the communes 4,799,958
thalers; State subsidy, 32S, ,29S thalers. These
salaries were paid to 33, CIT male and 1866 fe-
male teachers.
In Belgium the question of education is left
perfectly open, and, consequently, out of 5GG4
primary schools, 1868 schools, with 109,174
pupils, are under no control. The expenses of
the rest, accommodating 435,5S7 children,
amounted in 1862, the last year known, to
/, ,87S, ,3O0f, of which about one million was
paid by parents, while 41O,OO0f. were contrib
uted by public and private benevolence,
3, lac, ,000f by the communes, 7GO0OOf by the
provinces, and the rest by the State.
Spain, with population Of l2,s73,4sl in
habitants, has published most complete statis-
tics, but they unfortunately date from the year
1860. At that time Spain had 24,353 schools,
4155 being private. The public schools were
attended by l,lOl, ,529 pupils of both sexes,
5s7,712 of them paying nothing. The 4l55
private schools had $50, l24 pupils. The ordi-
nary expenses were 6l ,5S9, 4G5 reals, of which
s, ,792,2l9 were contributed by parents, $780,
GA by the communes, and ,46G,63 by chari-
table foundations. The extraordinary expenses
exceed twenty-one millions of reals.
Portugal, with 4,95l, $40 inhabitants, had, in
1865, S2OGprimary schools, with 100, 900 pupils;
between $4,000 and 10000 milrees something
more than e3,000) is all that the State con-
tributes towards these schools, and we are not
of the amount of expense incurred
by the communes or the parents of the chill
dren.
An excellent table of statistics informs us
that Italy in 1864, with population of 81, ,77777,
S34, had 1,097,829 pupils in 24,99S public
schools, and 14O,9l4 pupils in GsO5 private