New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-14
THE FRENCH UNIVERSITY.
AN ALL-1NcLUsIvE SYSTEM OF EDUCA-
TON
GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT EXTENDING FROM
THE KINDERGARTEN TO THE HIGH
Est BRANCIIEs-A SURPLUS OF
HIGHER TRAINING.

EST BRANCHES-A SURPLUS OF
HIGHER TRAINING.
Paris. April 81.
The celebration of the centenary OF the world-re-
nowned Ecole Normale Superieure has taken up
all the first days OF this week. Beginning with a
commemoration IF the discoveries made year
after year by Pasteur in its laboratory, the festiv
ties have ended with the first ball held In the col
iege Of the Sorbonne since its foundation, 600
years ago. The celebration was fixed for the pres
ent year. partly TO insist on the fact that the
foundation of this Normal School was a work OF
the great Revolution This is not altogether true.
for the school has turned out something very diff
ferent from what 1t was planned to be by those
men Of science who worked at 1t amid the Terror.
At present the Normal School is not unlike what
the Johns Hopkins University was during its
first years. 1t is school Of special studies for
those graduates Of the ordinary faculties who are
designed for the higher teaching OF the university.
As the university and all scholastic degrees Of
every kind are strict monopoly of the National
Government only those are admitted to the
school who have passed the competitive examina-
ton and been accepted by the State. During
three four years they prepare here their ex-
aminations for the higher degrees-those OF IL
cencie" "agrege" doctor-and are then sent out
all over France TO teach the higher college classes
They are bound to give their services to the state
and the university. which is one for all France,
opens to them an honorable career. Thus Jules
Iemaitre was for long time professor OF rhetoric
In the lyces at Havre. 1t Is now many years
since he left teaching for the literary work in
which he has made himself great name. But
the State always looks on him professor Of
the Faculty on leave Of absence; and as such ne
has Just been made Officer OF the Legion of Honor.
sci
best known to the public at large from Its many
students who have thus made their way to emf
nence in the world of science and letters. Some
Of these "normalicns" are known to all who fol-
low the course Of French national life. Among
them are names like Taine, in philosophy and his
tory: Provost Parado, who engaged In politics
only to end his brilliant literary career by suicide
In New-York while Minister to the United States;
NJ Paten0tre the present Ambassador to wash
ington to whom political career. after his years
of teaching, has brought much and varied travel;
Challemel-Lacour. the President Of the French
Senate; the late President Of the Chamber OF
Deputies, Burdeau. whose private study made him
an authority on the national finances while he
was publicly teaching philosophy TO college boys;
Edmond About in literature and journalism
Francisque Sarcey, who abandoned rhetoric to go
to the theatre every night for thirty years and be-
NJ. Georges Perrot the present director Of the
school who Is famous for his gigantic series OF
books on ancient art undertaken after long jour
news Of archaeological exploration in Greece and
Asia Minor Men of this kind have regularly
dropped out Of the work proper to the graduates
of the school, The rank and file Of these continue
on in their task Of instruction. Most OF them are
in the 'Iycees" and colleges which furnish the
secondary education required for the various
bachelors degrees Of the university-the only en-
trance keys to any liberal profession recognized by
the French State. few who distinguish them
selves take places In the special faculties OF the
higher education.
As the University Of France. under the Minister
Of Public Instruction, comprises every officially
recognized school in the country, from the Ecoe
Normale Superieure itself down to the babies ma
ternal schools or kindergartens. general view OF
this immense branch Of the public service becomes
interesting. 1t is the fifth branch Of what the
late Courcelle-Senevil, in his horror OF all State
functionarsm. called the French mandarnate."
The other four were the civil service. and the ser
vices Of war; juttce and religion. Altogether,
they make State functionary Of every eleventh
citizen; and the multiplication Of public offices and
Of red tape, with the examining for examinations
on the part Of candidates. is not unlike what we
hear Of the Chinese Empire and Its ruling man.
darns. In France. the service OF public instruc-
ton has most work and least pay.
The middle Of last October for the elementary
and maternal schools in France and Agers
there were 54,es0 male teachers and So 1856 female
teachers Q05.0es in alp actually paid by the
State. Among these were included the "stagi-
aires or candidates serving their apprentice
ship before their final reception into career
where everything goes on for lfetime-ap-
and
according to the most approved civil service
rules BY decree OF the convention. then domi-
mated by Robespierre. whose mind was not en-
trely taken up with the Terror. on Decem-
Der ~. 1892. 1t was decided that all these
teachers should be called by the classical name
OF 'instituteurs" "institutrlces" instead 81 sim
pIe school masters and mistresses The name has
remained and become the title OF one Of the
professions open to French youth OF both sexes
There are FIVE classes Of these functionares, ac-
cord.ng to the time they have served. the i'm
portance OF their work and the responsibility
They have their own special normal schools
scattered through the provinces. But at the
beginning 1t was the dream of the scientific
enthusiasts of the Revolution that what Is
now the higher normal school for university
teaching proper should also serve for the forma
ton OF these teachers OF the elementary schools
Lakanal IN his report 10 the convention an
nounced pompousy: "For the first time. mer
the most eminent IN every kind Of science an(
talent are 10 be the chief schoomasters Of &
people." And the convention proclaimed III
sovereign will Ito hasten the epoch when 4
rhaIi be able TO spread uniformly Throughout
the whole Republic the instruction necessar,
20 French citizens" This equality In public In
struction turned out 10 be an impracticab'