New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-19
EDUCATION IN FRANCE.

SYSTEM OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
The passage by the French Assembly OF the
bin granting Liberty OF Superior Instruction" marks
the beginning OF era in thc history OF the nation
The First Napoleon established complete monopoly OF
State education The University OF France granted
oil academic degrees controlled all faculties and regu-
lated nv It's prescriptions the literary and scientific
training OF all Frcnchmen. Shortly after the Revolution
of 1sas a commission was appointed to examine the
State system far as 1t related To primary
and secondary instruction, and through Its rec
ommendaiion the Government monopoly OF these
lower grades OF education abolished and the
liberty OF teaching M secured. Toward the close OF
the second Empire another commission was appointed
with NJ. Guzot at its head which, however, accom-
plished nothing Its work opposed by the advanced
Liberals who preferred the Continuance OF the state
MONOPOLY of University training the alternative OF
gain Of power by the Uramontanes through the col
egcs which they would be sure to found The present
bill has before the Assembly several years The
extreme Left always opposed 1t on the ground that
the Catholic Church alone would profit by It, and wouo
use it as a means of increasing her power
The first clause Of the bill announces the liberty OF
superior instruction. The second provides that any
Frcnchman enjoying civil rights Of the age Of 20 years
or any association of Frcnchmen formed for the purpose
Of education, any depa tment commune or diocese
may establish classes (eoursl universities or colleges
,es;ssemens, for superior instruction, under the
dnions of This law" The insertion Of the word
diocese" led 20 a warm debate. BY the terms OF
the French law diocese rs not civil person and
esnuo inherit property Ii contended that the H.
sction of the word IN this act wcud either be- Illegal or
an evasion OF the statutes of mortnan Tae Committee
in charge Of the bill opposed the erection of the dioceses
into civil pcrsouages contrary to public policy sim
liar objection made 10 the words departments or
communcs" as they would then become independent OF
the Minister Of Public Instruction. Finally all the words
were retained condition that their acceptance should
he voted on AT the time third reading OF tic bill
As all French closely supervised By tho Govern
ment, there l. stringent law in existence IN re-
gard to public meetings the extent OF Government
neryision over the teachers % higher If learn
ig was discussed great length. II was decided that
persons attending tho lectures OF such teachers must
have their names inscribed rs guaranty of order but
thai the Government surveillance should he limited To
"mcrahiy, the Constitution and the laws" The ques
of the right TO confer degrees was debated sew
eral DAYS NJ. Jules Ferry spoke strongly Tor
the exclusive right of tie state 10 confer
degrees The new scheme Ee said hal been first started
by a society Of Catholic layncn, known as the Associ
ton OF the Catholic Committees OF France AT bottom IL
was nothing less than claim fer tho monopoly OF all
education b, the Church" Bishop DoupuOup, who has
,haupIOnsi the bill behalf OF the Church replied by
DENYING as a clumny the charge that the Church wished
- share and then the teaching monopoly OF the
State He d nandcd liberty of public instruction ms "a
means Of r"adnc against the possible tyranny OF the
State lie attacked the teaching of certain university
professors ahctica quoting from lectures In PROOF
az his assertions system OF mixed jurics one half Of
Inc members 20 be appointed by the Minister Of Public
Instruction behalf OF the Government and one half by
The voluntary Institutions, finally accepted by both
parties These jurors will conduct the examinations Tor
and grant degrees.
The long aid bitter opposition to the new law Lac
grown ont OF the fear that the Catholic Church ONLY
would e The gamer by its passage. Moderate RePubi-
cans Ike w. Iabouayc, have, however, both voted and
spoken in It's favor In srepOr on it, NJ Labouaye de-
ranied liberty Of public instruction for the many
mo- now obtain chairs They On tat Sido o. n, u.s.
raif wa. Many .9a the Right were Eoyallsis
tG,n '" E"yep.,ts: and what esTcciaiy kept them
aoof the Republic was the feeling that IT refused TO
ti,ei His opinion va that nothing permanent could be
,sfoiJsrd without assuring those guarantees tie
Irch There were only three ways of treating her: 10
ri,c her power to crush her, or to give heE m ly
il, To crush her no ore thought OF emperors beth Ro
man and Others had tried that and failed IL only re-
10 bubble Of had given liberty to primary and see
"ndary instruction Ihe prescott R t So
oi cOnciiailon."
NJ. Laboulayo replied to NJ. Jules Ferry, who Lad
spoken dsparagnsly of the American system OF popu-
lar cluc.tiOn. lie said
II doubt wrong In America 10 make the medical
Iro sson entirely free for that ,ead1 TO dioas eenS
ucafion or study has suffered in America When NJ
jules Ferry Gays that literature or philosophy has not
Ia produced hs,orians such as Prescott Bancroft and
Motley, aud that mny jIisis might oe na,neu wo
s,orv the exponnacr OF the Coustiiution. may add
that antry which cXpcndsS 5CVoOO0O for primary
education il would be strange not hing wore done Tor
education such is moi the case for no country does
america, hut il should borne in mind that the nation
: hardly century old and N ~ vas = 10 sci.e
tie country FIRST and then create and ac9unuatc wealth.
problems have been solved IN America OF
which do not dream. will cite an instance;
Wisa in the Middle Ages Of the most powerful
reasons for the popularity aud lhhucheeu OF tne
Tie peasant was afforded education, and could
Here il would seem II this matter did not concern W.
Iaboi no matter how wen ad ,ptcd he may be for
higher station if Afforded education In America this
proble settled Owing to the diffusion OF pubic edn
cation establishment OF colleges aud hc opportCn-
ties afforded by The niyerstieTi there IL Is no
attain the highest degree of social culture 1t ls |
for this that we see Ill Ameiled lawyers Who ne
gan wocd-choppers and men VINO nave lsen rom tHo
lowest ranks of society TO the highest Ihcre Is NOT ~
America man who can say, III had means; II haa |
Nancod as hsh as wished" There lie i compelled to
ssy Instead h:v. nat s sH6c not as % Tmsres
spring up in that country Ike mushrooms one |
q tine last the C 6s ea nns Nv ccT ISd md
j. 10 arranged that every man who works ai mas auif
ton to study can enter there And IN order hit lie may
need aims and be able to inainal MIS- seiipidr
In the University itself workshops where, by
cye ms board and education free This il hat Is done
in America and permit 10 add that perhaps the leO-
pie comprehend there well ~ ourselves higher educa-
The last vote on the bin showed 3G5 for to 994 against
IT. Thus" says The London Times, "a change Of i'm
Incne importance will he made in the daily life OF France
nearly years essentially secular and Often I'm
essentially skeplcl body the state, has shaped TIE
higher teaching Oh ne young men VINO nave nIcd me
country. And the mighty system of educational
des,Osm h about 10 receive what may b. mortal blow
decree must make a vast difference 10 France in lie
long II IL wonder then, that the Conservative
lar beyoad the literal ross'on' o. ,e PRESENT t G ra'
krt.tg