, 1877-03-11
EDUCATION IN FRANCE.


CHICAGO, Marrh 9.-A1y object in addressing
you these few lines Is to answer q certain ar
ticlc published in your last Sunday issue,
entitled 'tCompulsory Education in France. ~
Permit me to inform you that, either by mis-
take or wrong information given you, the state
ment is incorrect, unless that France has gone
back to the dark ages within o. few years past;
but this have no reason to believe, because,
according to the American press aud other
authorities, France IS not going back, but
marching forward under the colors Of Progress,
Industry, Arts, and Sciences, which give her
the power and knowledge to promptly
overcome any misfortune which may
happen to her. Possessing these adran-
tases, she might be whipped, but never sub
jugatcd. If such great mass or proportion
of her people are as ignorant as Is asserted in
your statement that in portion Of her terri
tory, onc-third, and, in the remainder, 60 per
cent, Of tho people arc unable to read and write,
cannot see how it could be possible for the
highest classes, from Princes to nobles and the
wealthy OF all nations Of the civilized world, to
60 to that spot to spend portion Of their lives
and to acquire refinement among such an ignor-
ant people,
do not wish to charge THE TRIBUNE with
prejudice against the French people, but claim
to possess sufficient authority to show that such
assertion is Misrepresentation, and your in
former is entirely wrong Oh the subject. I
would state that 1 was born and raised in me
dinm-sized town in the interior Of Southern
France, between Bordeaux aud Marseilles, and
there derived the benefit Of public or primary
school during five or six years, which enables me
to give you very nearly correct information In
reference to the French system of public educa-
tion; aud, as hare noticed that You take IN
tercst in publishing remarks on the subject, I
will take pleasure in explaining to you the laws
and regulations on that branch, which took e.
1ect throughout the Kingdom in the Inter part
of Louis PhilipDc's reign, in 1916, or about that
time.
The laws were made to this effect: Tint each
Incorporated village, town, or citr-ward, OF a
population not less than 500, should have or
own a school-house within its limits All
school-teachers must be graduates Of normal
school; aud each of those villages, towns, or
wards is to have one or more teachers, accord
inE to population Each county or canton is to
have Superintendent, who has the power to
aud he is required to make an examination Of
each school monthly. The terms Of school are
to be eleven months each year. The teachers
receive dire"t salary from the Government,
Ao@ " oc te1s 1liaH ~" 11a1cs pel uttHuAi' 1Ac
parents ot the pupAs are taxed ~ cents per
month m 1or Tor each scholar; bpt provision IS made
IN IN case INC parents should DC poor ana not ape
Mayor, they obtain certificate OF indigensy, and
that trees them from this tax, but their children
have the same rights and must attend school
the same as any other. This school tar goes to
the Govcrnment, like any other Government
tax. There Is not 4 house in France but be-
longs toa village or town corporation. Each
corporation has q Mayor, a Vice~Mayor, and
twelve members Of the Common Council, which
are elected every three years BY universal SUI
irage within their respective limits. The school,
teacher generally occupies the Office OF Secretary
OF the Council, and for this he receives m addl-
tional sum OF about 100 francs Hc is also the
leaderof the singing department at church on
the Sabbath, and for this he receives about loo
francs more After a close examination, tan-
not see much room for great deal of improve
ment. There might be a little about the tax;
but, according to my views, think it is just
that, il man has four or five children, he
should pay something for their education,-that
Is, il nc IS able, as provided by law
left France when I was ~ years Of age, was