The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-06-18
FRANCES EDUCATION.
IN SOME PARTICULARS FAR AHEAD
OF THAT AMERICA.

General education In france IL Iully as
thorough and gratuitous as that OF the
United States, and in some particulars far
ahead of it, mainly so in the system OF prac-
teal education.
commencing with the kindergarten, the
primary schools, the intermediate schools,
drawing and art schools, all have the same
manifest and outspoken tendency OF raising
the growing population into people OF
skilled and we'll educated workmen who, by
their superior training and intellectual out
fitting, will I've better able to fight misery and
poverty than at any period of the world be-
fore. All the instruction, tools, books, sta
tionery-to the very poor even food and
clothing-are given free Of charge, so that
school becomes All abode Of pleasure and a
dispenser Of comforts to the poor children
whose parents are not able to provide them
with any Of these blessings"
France spends 300 OOO,O O0f year to give
its growing generation intellectual advance
ment. In addition to this the ministers OF
war and Of commerce contribute large sums
for special schools, anl Paris spends for
municipal schools 30, 000,0OOf., which is five
times more money than was spent for this
purpose in the time Of the empire. MIR. Soho
enhof says ''the school systems Of other ma
tons may be as complete in their educational
facilities, but nowhere excepting In Switzer-
land and America is free instruction 50 sys-
tematically carried out as in France.
Nowhere are Industrial education and art
education made, SO to speak, an organic.
part Of the whole system. of public instruc-l
ton" 1t begins with manual training, and
10 "a oh act tna opipcy
AIM OF THE GOVERNMENT.
This seems to be the aim Of the government.
General education at first and in time spe-
cial instruction.
a. Toaccustom the child to know the tools,
to understand their use and to amuSe him as
much as possible with sketchinss, outlinings,
modelling and hand work. 2. To assist In the
creation Of apprentice schools In industrial
ccnters to the end of giving to the pupils 'Sho
follow the instruction dexterity in the use of
the hand and other corresponding knowledge
to prepare them for entering the Ecole DIES
Arts ct Meters or manufacturing establish
ments. 3 To contribute to the expense Of
tools and machinery used in the superior,
primary and other schools preparing for the
technical schools. 4. To raise the standard
of admission TO the Ecole des Arts ct Meters
by the greater efficiency given by these Sec
ondary primary schools with workshop prac
tice connected g. To assist the superior To-
cal schools in the support OF specially deter
mined industries Of the district. T. To bring
the principal schools to the highest degree OF
technical and scientific perfection by adding
new courses Of complementary exercises of,
e,.acfoI a,,nlipafion apI N and a
courage as much as possible industrial socie-
ties who maintain special public courses in
the different industrial centers of the coun-
try
Americans who favor all art education as
necessary for workmen had to combat old
ideas and time bonored prejudices. Once, so
long as cloth was thick or warm, or house,
as William Morris has it, was comfortable
hutch,r that sufilced. But as manufactures
have increased, our "infantile productive
powers" turning out moro goods than we
could conveniently use, We want a market
for them. The Minnesota or Iowa man is
satisfied, Indifferent to the color, design,
form, finish Of the wares be makes or buys,
yet the Mexican or Brazilian may feel disin
clined TO wear the goods we manufacture
simply because they do not suit his taste as
to "color, design, form, finish" As Mr..
Schoenhof aptly puts it,
MANY an article superior in wearing quail
ity, and consequently of higher intrinsic
value, is rejected in competition with an in
ferior one, more pleasing 70 the eye, how
ever, in virtue of higher skill and taste en-
ployed in it's ornamentation, coloring, shap-
ing. The particular manufacturer in the
United States who ignores this fact and is
obstinate stands the chance Of ruin"
In Paris there are from fifty TO seventy
five studios of designers for industrial art,
and at their heads are designers Of skill. with
full knowledge of art industry or the adap-
tiveness Of certain forms and ornamentations
to materials To these studios come the
manufacturers who purchase ideas.
THE TECHNICAL SCHOOLS
All technical schools in France arc under
the supervision Of the minister Of commerce.
The highest of these is the Ecole DIES Arts ct
Meters. There are others at AK, Anglers
and Chalons sur Marine. In the workshops
are turned out competent foremen and super
intendents. The work in these schools, it Is
believed, will be better in the future, because
the rising generation Of Frenchmen, under
that newer system, which teaches the child
how to work earlier with his hands, will have
more time for theoretical study.
Special schools for trades are singular to
France, as the Ecole Municipale Profession
ellie d'Ameublement, where pupils are taught
to design and make artistic furniture In
theoretical studies the pupils are taught
French, history, language, arithmetic. geom-
etry, technology, history of industrial draw
ing. sketching, modelling and molding. Pro
fessional instruction consists OF cabinet
making. wood carving, turning, joiner work
and upholstery instruction Is free, and
pupils are fed during school hours. The
teachers are practical workmen. Somewhat
similar in character Is u school where car
rage building is taught, and the Ecole
d'Horlogerie, which gives education to those
who work to become skilled watchmakers.
With similar ends, many schools are now in
the formation process in France for the
making Of mathematical, optical, telegraphic
and surgical instruments. In Lyons there Is
n weaving school (Ecole de TissaGe. In
Paris, rs a center of population. there are
80 primary schools for boys, 2'j for girls,
and the pupils number 100000. The divisions
are kindergarten schools, primary
schools and superior primary schools ecoles
primaries ct superieures).
OF the 2S5 primary schools in Paris ninety
have workshops for the working of wood and