New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-02
SWITZERLAND.

THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OF GENEvA-AN ALPINE
ACCIDENT.
GENEVA. Aug. 14.-In July, 1863, the SWISS
Federal Chambers charged the Federal Council 10 iS'
tutc general inquiry into the employment OF ch'reh
in f,otories This Investigation hes been completed ana
brief Of tho report stating results Is no" P'''"'
The cBor has two hcadsOnc relating TO the measures
that had already been taken by the CantoS ior inc pro
lection Of children working in fact7ieS' te e'nor cover
ing statistics as the conditions OF age WORK. sdiaiy'
Sc Of the children. Special laws for the protection OF
,bldrcs exist only six Cantons and these agree sub
,,ptiaily in fixing minimum age for admission into
factories a maximum number of hours OF work, and
certain rules for attendance at school In all the Can
sons however attendance the public schools TILL the
age of IL IS obligatory. II is impossible TO tell what re-
suits these protective laws have produced III the con-
ltOn of working children. rs 10 data have been fur
,sbed by the comparison OF reports made at different
stages Indeed. adjoining Canous are cited whose ideas
md proceedings the subject are diamericaily op
1oscdone Affirming that excessive and premature work
vas deinorzlug and cufeebng to this class of children
and having interfcrca for their protection by law
.hc "gOrcSnmeut OF factories, passed year ago. the
other having decided that the existing educational laws
we're tUrOuCt and carefully enforced as TO make
intervention ~ behalf of the children superluous.
Ia order TO obtain materials under the second head
Of their report the Committee prepared set OF
questions. the to which each Canton was allowed
its own me mod of obtadning The first question related
20 the number ~ children employed in the factories TIE
twenty CuutOu included in TIE report contain 6Gi fcO
RES which employ $50 children et whom 9o9 are RON
from TO TO II. and - less than 10 These hS
do not Include the mutHdes OF children ehsdsSu
IN domestic Industry whose position IS oiten more Ia
borious than mat of factory children The second qGeS
tOn was touching length of time during which chill
dren are kept at work On th point there are relnarka.
hle differences the hours ranging from to To- In SIX
CantOns the maximum time 10 hours in three Can
tens the maximum of children or from II to "A is Is
hours in three Cations for children OF 10 to 49, is 49,
find at Bcrne and Lucerne a maximum of IL hours Chill
dren work SUNDAYS only exceptionally ana IN si1ni
Cantous but As to wages, there are also wide differ
In Canton Tessn the average Is only to cen
times hour Canton ArTOVlC, CeMtlQeS; III LII
erne and the rises TO 6 confines IN Cantohs
Zurich ana Bale WIFE, and in two others to 20 The aver
age worth OF u hours OF work is perhaps valued AZ about
franc 20 centlmeS "a cents.
School attendance: with those children. fortunately not
numerous, that are admitted into factories at and even
before the age of 10, the obligation to at
hey do not go at ALL, or If they DO, their
Searness units them for study But in most OF the Can
east six hours per week The question is raised whether
cooi gwen lIteT Wotk IN the factories pro
luces satisfactory results Ihls the Report fails to an
wer clearly. The Government Of TLmgovie is almost
he only that has busted itself with the question, and
he statements furnishes on the subject are cOntradic
t)ySomc witnesses giving negative, others an air-
conditions the factory influence is injurious to school
ruhiue aud complaints numerous probably those
conditions generally wanting. Under the head of
sanitary Condition the Report groups the replies made
he following questions:
pulatOEst How are the works organized, in hygenic
point Of view What is the sanitary condition OF the
children 1t appears from the replies made the first
question. that IN some Cautons especially Berpe and
Thurgoyie, children employed in tue manufacture Of
phosphorus and chemical matches, occupations, the ju
'ous effects OF which well known. Generally how
,ver cannot be said that the occupations which chill
1ren follow in themselves injurious; but the com
nittec OF one Caution remarks " Work not absolutely
harmful may eCcone so when it concerns individuals
whose physical Development is backward and whose
lealt abnormal WtcE 1t too intense for the strength
the ldbOfer and too Ions continued and when the laws
hygiene observed u the work-rooms" In the
asst respect it is true, progress has been made defIg
the past few years, buildings lately erected leave
nothing to be desired lp-~tne- way Of space. ven
G in SRune and YefIning But these are few
worry defective That, after tins the reports the san
tary condition OF children shOd be GENERALLY satisiac
machinery common in sOue OF the Cantons Is far from
general accidents caused by the machinery are not
unusual In Cautions cOrpOrcal punishment Is for
bddc by raw; Others is used Onit in abuse and 1t
children in of formal complaint OF such treat
ment such are the principal results Of the first general
rel who work in taetores-results suggesting certain
Chambers Will probably turn their attention.
Of discussion relative to the primary school
of the Genera Journal between the School In
spseoTs on one side And an Interested pubic On the
tho editor many subeaehcrs, and numerous parents;
The latter party urge that the present condition and
treatment OF the teachers IN these schools are Injurious
and unjust to both teachers and pupils The Point OF
whm o. tier sI9 nfeed If beng for dem
mite time charge Of division, liable at
moment DO shifted INTO another school, or even from
one end of the Canton to tie other without warming
The evils Of these continual dsplacements have been
strenuousy urged by Mr.. Delafontaipe, who calls
for a reform IN the whole machinery OF school
government lie insists that these frequent
changes give TO the positions Of these teachers
office or the Igh service they render the public and
also that the effects OF such state OF things are even
more Injurious the pupils themselves since an insruc
tor cannot when his mind Is distracted by
appreheHsons OF removal In tho course OF TINS
controversy Mr. Delafontaine has published numerous
letters from teachers who have suffered from this state
,cboo sysem To tbs the Educational Inspectors have
lust written final letter, declaring shat 1t practically
impossible to prevent these changes which nave been
due great part TO iusuihcieney in the number OF
instructors denying at the same une ta thelr eject
the discussion Though for the present this letter closes
Delafontape announces his intention Of publishing
series OF letters on the condition OIL the Educatona
OF Government to the necessity Of reforms in school
organization. He also publishes letter signed by about
question and urging HIM to continue his efforts
reformation OF abuses which they convinced are most
Injurious to their children The matter will probably
soon brought before the Grand Council aud to DO
hopel carefully considered.
Another Of those painful Alpine tragedies that every
almost sure to bring has Just happened On the
lips OF Brighton started from kasteseln to make the as
cent OF SUhreckhOna peak OF the Bernese Oberand
They were escorted by three experienced guides. Dir.
Elliot took the lead with two OF the guides He had
arrived within a short distance Of the summit when he
Insisted on taking path that the guides declared unsafe
They urged him 10 allow himself 70 be fastened to them
by rope, but lie refused and pushed on ahead lie had
esan his footing but in VAIN One guides seized
him an Instant by the arm, but could not retain his hold
rapdy descended the abrupt peak that forms the
nrheas side Of the mountain and at the distance OF
about 900 feet disappeared from the eyes OF has eopan
tho direction OF the glacier Of Lauteraarhorn
Mr.. Phillips and the guides returned al once 10 Gflnde
wad, when detachment or six fresh guides was at once
sent out in Of the body After two days Of danger
Gus search Il found 4O6 feet below the point
the unfortunate tourist fell Mr.. Elliot intrepid
mountain climber, aud member Of the Alpine Club
Every Summer for the past four years he had visited
Switzerland, and made various di1lcult ascents-
Mr.. Phillips declares that blame be attach ed to
he guides, as the accident was entirely due D. Mr.
Elliots rash oyer-cOnhdeDce in his skill. Had he
followed their advice all would have been we'll
MEXICO