New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-17
MODERN STUDIES IN FRANCE
prscrrBED BY THE PRESIDENT OF HAv-
ERFORD COLLEGE.

an Trance
=, the ,yo<ss and other secondary schools ana
..otea A new ~modernn course In which
l,ccalaureate degrees can be taken, admitting
candidates to various public employments and 10
ths Polytechnic and the military ana forestry
scho.,ls The s,udies are In part some OF those
,sorircd for the degree of Bachelor OF Science ana
An mart those of the special course OF genera
studies which was founded twenty years ago put
has not proved very successful In the opinion Vi
,bo promoters of this scholastic revelation,
stnden:s whose circumstances will debar them
from taking a long course in Greek and La',n
3ourht to have the opportunity OF receiving IN
addition to their commercial and professions"
education, an excellent intellectual culture ht''"
TO make laborious employees, enlightened ADMINS
traitors and useful citizens" The instruction.
which covers ak years, is to be scientific "'oi",9
and general the modern Languages taxing INC
place OF Latin and Greek Both French anu
German are required. In the west OF france e"on
pnpil must study German at least four years anu
English at least two in tho eastern haii Oh 'ne
Repuhlc English four years and German Two ~
IA designed that the modern languages shaiI 10 ~
taught as to require very hard study anu a"oiu
Thorough discipline. Besides enabling 'he s."uo",'
70 read speak and write them nuehty anu "o''
tbs coursa "a ex pected 10 develop ana tram tner
literary taste and incidentally to instruct tnein IN
rAsard to life and manners, history, morals anu
noi,t,cs bv methods similar TO those pursued by
tho hast classical teachers. The new Minister OF
Ins,rnction. NJ Goblet. evidently feels that the
chef weakness of the new course is on the @sthetc
a,d ethical SIDE and has tried to strengthen 1t
accordingly.
The Minister Of Instruction takes pains to aVow
That IL WAGES No war against Greek and Latin'
aihe study of the ancient languages and litera-
tpresp saws NJ. Z6vOrt director of the ministry.
for some ysars the object of so many controver-
Ia. al md retain
The future its high aesthetic and moral valne On
IL we all depend, both partisans and opponents II
is from il that for 200 years what Is called Tspr"
Irancais has proceeded, with its eminent quantities
of cearness, neatuess aud precision, good sense
orioinalitv and sane moderation and proportion
1t is hence that superior instruction VIII
continue to recruit itself one of our priest goTes
n model system Of instruction whose weight ana
influence Increase with all the progress OF modern
soc,etiesp But it takes the view that Greek and
LATIN are best adapted for those who choose the
bigher professions or are to lead literary or
leisursly lives. and that tho new course Will be
better suited for the slower middle class" and
candidates Tor the practical professions and occupa
tons
lt is objected by an able writer that the new plan
viii create d" an aristocracv of students educated
according TO the old maxms. and plebs devoted to
inferior studies, either from inclination or from
division will not be made. this inequality will
not exist because if the two courses have to do
with different subjects they are inspired with the
same methods and method is everything. Like
the instruction in Crock and Latin the instruction
IN French aims to expand and open the mind to
enamor the soul with the beautiful, and it will
succeed in that aim. The instruction in Greek and
Latin relieved of uninterested students that
encntuber IT, will regain it's suppleness and life,
tl-lt 10, tafu pfNnS ~ Ipl IA
are useless fer the but full Of fruit for the
chosen few"
Besides the modern languages and mathematics,
the history of France. physical geography and q
careful study of the routes OF commerce ana the
natural productions manufactures and resources OF
The different ccuntrics of the earth, political
economy commercial law. the natural and physical
srirnces especially in their practical application,
and an extensive course in drawing Will be re-
Auired Tor the new baccalaureate degree. one
cannot but admire the skill with when tie course
has been planned so that tue fullest practical
advantage shall be derived from every study. The
young graduate will not write Greek and Latin
verse but he will know his own country and the
whole modern world he can make his wants
known in any land whore English and German
are spoken and can write letters on business or
otLer matters in those languages as well as in his
own: he comes TO his business not as raw
apprentice but III points almost as master;
ard at the same time ho Is no Inlnstlhe OF
Larbsrian but can quote the English. German and
French poets and is quick to appreciate tie
such is the ideal of NJ. Goblets proposition at
least high. let me say, must he the ideal OF any
modern course of instruction which expects to
compete successfully with the old classical
curriculum. 1t is acknowledged on all hands IN
France rs il probably would be generally III the
civilized world, that " the modern education" has
pot yet attained satisfying results in forming
thorough students and disciplining the mind as the
PIC education and above all that 1t has not beef
as successful on the side of aesthetic culture.
think there is good reason TO hope better success
from the new methods which Will De adopted II
France when the schools open next October. The
educational world W III wait with interest for the
results. The critical question is this: Can you gel
IA much hard and telling work out of yonr students
in .he modern as in the classical course 7 Can you
give them As thorough and as fruitful discipline
10 not mean by hard work drudgery over
Tepulsive tasks, but simply that digent, energetic
aud delightful labor in subjects In which the mind
IL Interested without which nothing great can bt
achieved. Not only the Rerue DIS Deur .Monds and
some % the journals. but committee OF the COnsei
Sgply1em itself, which reported adversely to ~
Eoblet's project predict that the chief support o
the new method will be the Incidence of the
youth and the weakness OF parents" SIM al
cutoisIl has been passed in America on slmilal
schemes.
VIII the modern degree confer equal honor will
TIE classical degree Not if the classical course
admits sufficient amount of modern studies
man who knows GIeek aDd Latin. together with
modern languages and iteratures and a taiI
kDOwedg &c of the sciences. is better educated than
one who knows the latter alone. But there are
good educstions and good educatons: and we have
Dntgrown the age in which one narrow curriculum
could with justice and Dropriety be imposed upon
all asprants for high culture The needs OF
modern life are very diverse; the field of modern
knowledge is very wide; nor IS genuine liberal
culture to oe gained from ancient sources alone
What the thorough. penetrating and comprehensive
study OF modern languages may do for the highest
ellecinal development has never yet been shcwn
in the schools.
"The proper teachers OF the modern languages
ar a. yet wanting say some of NJ Goblets critics
The sans objection IS urged to the great extension
to the study Of drawing which he proposes
Enthusiastic and competent teachers must bt
found. or the scheme will fail dismally but they
will come in time, If the Ministry earnest and
persistent
Another weakness objected to the system is tina,
1t starts with an aim at popularity, which very
am, may make il too ready TO amuse the studsu Is
father than train them. and to make concession
70 their love of ease. Vigorous will on the part
the teachers. il they understand the situation
Onght TO Obyiate this objection.