The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-07-18
Freedom of Education in France.
Dublin Nation, juno s6,.


A great victory was won last week in
France for the cause of freedom, and it
loses none of its importance and its value
because freedom shares its laurels with re-
ligion. 1t was victory full of the most
important consequences for the future of
France, and, unlike many another domestic
French triumph, it will leave no sting be-
hind in the minds of the vanQuished. The
battle was fought out within the National
Assembly the weapons employed were
argument and eloquence the question at
issue was how higher education was for the
future to be conducted in France and the
Assembly resolved by an unmistakable
majority that it should be free, not in theory
only, but also in practice. 1t is impossible
to overrate the seriousness of this decision.
1t crowns a struggle that has been going on
for fve-and forty, or rather for sixty years,
between the advocates of rational liberty
and the partisans of monopoly.
Previous to 1889, the opportunities for
obtaining good education were as many,
az widely diffased, aud as easy of access in
France as they were in any other country
in Europe-far more SO than they were, for
example, in England: We do not here re-
fer to the primary education of the masses
Of the people. That was q thing about
which very little was thought in those
times although it must be acknowledged
that even in this, France was pioneer of
civilization to the rest Of Europe. She gave
birth to the great Appetite of the education
of the people, Jean Baptiste de la Sale, to
whose honour she raised statue a few days
ago. When we speak Of education any
time previous to 1900, it is university and
professional edu cation, and the education
of schools and colleges preparatory to uni
versity and professional training, which
is before the mind. In that sense, France
was not only well provided with educa-
tional machinery, bat the education impart-
ed was free-free in so far as the lowliest
peasant from Dauphine or Bretagne might
obtain for himself all its benefits, and 80
rise to high position, even under the old
regime free also, as being really exempt
from State interference. The Revolution
swept away all the French universities, on
the principle that degrees were titles of
honour, and therefore at variance with the
simple equality of the citizens of a republic;
further, that, as those degrees imported q
special license to practice in some of the
professions, they involved a monopoly
equally at variance with equality. The
Revolution also swept away the colleges
which were the feeders Of those institutions,
the educational nurseries for the middle and
upper classes of Frencbmen. 1t is no exag
geratlon to say that France has never re-
covered the literary and educational van
dallsm of that period.
When, at the beginning of this century,
nttle breathing time was granted, in the
midst of the terrific wars that formed the
settled routine of existence, the first Napo-
leon, with that genius for organization
winch was perhaps his greatest characteris-
nc uc, Immediately set about reconstituting
tne educational system. His plan, however,
embraced all stages of instruction, from the
SSiiPpaoet IN the primary school, to the
hlghest flights of mathematical analysis or
metaphysical speculation. All the educa-
uonal elements were to be brought within
tne one orbit, and all were alike to revolve
round Minister of State as a centre. For
asuim! me indeed, the shadow and appearance
VI noerty was permitted to university edu-
sSa1lon, which was confided to the admins
n uatl9n Of senate composed of scientific
nosa6lIities. But the squabbles of the
members of this body among themselves,
S s!NI, mis- own predominant passion of con :
Trolling every thing, led to his placing the
SSutlfe education of the country under the
Stsspotic control of a Minister of Public In
SS;ttt t From that time forward univer-
iug education, as the thing is understood
~ england, in Germany, in Italy, and as it
o vas previously understood in France itself,
tSIeaseo to exist. AL the instruction given
=; throughout the entire country was strictly
~ conformity with programme laid down
~ the minister. He appointed all the
Vtssachers of every subject he prescribed
sne subjects of Instruction, the text books,
ana books of reference. He regulated the