National Republican., 1878-11-16
OBSERVER.

In tho EcU England Journal Of Education Of
November is u communication from Hon. J.
| d. Philbrck written ut Paris, few extracts
| from which may interest those readers of The
REPUBLICAN who do not sec the Journal often.
IL at all. OF the visit Of the French teachers
ut the Exhibition he says: AT the request Of
| the Minister of Public Instruction the Parlia-
mcnt voted 100000 francs, TO be expended in
aiding representative teachers of public schools
| from all parts of the country To come to tho
great Exhibition. II was decided 10 arrago for
the visit of about l 200 representative teachers
| from as many districts, into which the cantOns
were grouped for this purpose. The delegates
were elected by their fellow teachers. A COM
mttee of the most competent educational
officials was appointed by tho Minis
ter to make all the necessary ar
rangcmeuts for these delegates while in Paris.
| The main features Of the programme wero:
That the delegates should be divided into two
| sections that one OF these should come at .
time, aud remain about ten days that they
should attend q series OF pedagogical con-
ferences or lectures at the SOrbOnnc; that they
should bo divided into squads numbering
about twenty five each for visiting the educa-
tiOnal exhibitions Of the different nations, Tho
railroad managers throughout France trans
ported all teachers for half fare. Hence tho
number of public school teachers who actually
visited the exhibition within the course Of
three or four weeks amounted to II 600. For
two or three weeks our American educational
exhibit was thrOnged with these teachers ac-
COmpanied by normal school directors and
school inspectors, eager for the practical in-
formation which they could properly use in
their own schools. Miss l.. 5. llotChkiss, who
had been very successful teacher in Boston,
and who speaks French tuCnty, rendered cx-
Cullent service in explaining our exhibit and
our system of schools TO French visitors.
. The conferences ut the SOrGO mo
I,.1 ha1l
great antique hall Of teics, where the solemn
public ceremonies of the university are held,
which accommodates nearly 1000 auditors
Here eleven eminent educators delivered dis
courses In succession to crowded and enthusi-
Rstic audiences composed wholly OF teachers,
mostly men. The topics were geography, tho
teaching of the mUthGr.tunguc, drawing pcda-
gogical libraries, physics, aud natural history.
school hygiene, singing, school furniture, ele-
mentury chemistry, aud intuitive instruction.
Ia I" Ten of tho eleven lectures are al
ready printed. The one on school furniture,
illustrated by Ross, taken from our exhibit to
the Sorbonno for tho purpose, will be printed
separately. The closing lecture was by NJ.
Buissou, on the subject of "lntuitive lnstruc-
tion." And what discourse! 1t Is
us sparkling and captivating In style MS II is
sound and practical in matter 1t is hoped
this conference will be translated iuto English
aud published ior the benedt Of American
teachers.
The Minister. In his address at the closing
ceremonies, said: Let this date of 1878 be 70
you, not souvenir of distraction and pleasure,
but an inexhaustable source Of moral and pa
triotiC renovation, a point Of departure for new
cforts, and an attachment more uncomquer-
able to your functions, modest but great, OF the
schoolmaster." The other thing which went
to perfect tho visit was grand sUree at the
| palace of the minister, where all the teachers
could come and feel ut home, without cere-
mOny, without swallow'tailcd coat. white kids,
| or White Crlyat