The record-union., 1895-11-15
PARIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The Gay City Has a Model System of
Education.
Many Points of Excellence Utterly
Foreign to the American
System.

world and the most pIeasure-loVlnR, ou
the Paris school system is model one
It has many points of excellence utterly
foreign to American systems OF educa'
ton, and many wise regulations govern
Ing the scholars which will interest the
parents of Young America as well as oul
school reformers.
1t is rot the fashion in France to send
well-born child to the public school. bu'
that is his loss, for the system of educa'
ton is the best of its kind in the world.
For the last fifteen years there has been
o socialistic or radical majority In the
Municipal Council of Paris, and all tha'
could be done has been done to advance
the interest of the people. The paren'
has only to send his child to school. Ihe
motherly State does the rest. With open
arms it welcomes the toddler OF two years
of age, and if he shows special ability III
any direction he may pursue his STUDIES
for twenty-five consecutive years ana ho'
spend dollar.
Education is compulsory. Nothing bui
mental debility exempts the child. EVeu
the little hospital patients ana tlny Grip,
pies have their lessons and lndustria
toys. The small f'rancals may go 10 the
Maternelle or mother schools between
the ages OF two and six years, but he mus
go to some school from six until thirteen
years. The plea of poverty IS not enter
tanned for the State stands ready &c
cIothe' feed and amuse Little What's
name, and in addition give him pension
TO pay for lodgings in his own mouse
The pension varies from 81 to % month
according to the condition OF the family
CLOTHES FOR THE POOR.
Paris is divided into twenty arrondis-
sements or wards. Each has Its own
Mayor and Common Council. If parent
is so ili-starred that he cannot clothe MS
child Il don't say children, for the frencl
family only averages cnud ana nalI
he has only 10 notify the Mayor OF bis
reimbursement; if he doesn't, some ofh-
cious neighbor viii. In due time the
child is sent Tor by the proper authority
who not only dresses hun decently, bul
comfortably aud often fashlonably.
No secondhand goods are used. Livery
garment distributed Is brand new and
the proper hit. Boots aud stockings,
blouse or apron of everlasting Jeans to
save the outfit, caps, hats. wraps anu ID
the winter gloves are included. AS 1nlgh;
be supposed from the national love OF
uniforms, these Tree garments are neither
cut from the same clotn nor made on the
same plan.
II the child has been the butt of nature
BILE by skilled medical advice, accurately
fitted glasses and surgical goods. In the
eyes or the State every boy IS French
soldier, and every girl is the mother o.
one, which has e great deal 10 DO wltE
the excellent quality OF the clothing
furnished, particularly that OF the under
wear and footwear.
There Is perfectly appointed kitchen
and capable cook and assistant IN every
school. \ piping-h0t meal is served al
noon. IT the pupil does not care TO buy
il he can bring his own chop, egg, hsh OF
pot-pie, and the cuisinere VIII cook 1t foI
Tim. In the poorer sections breakfast
of hot soup is served al $3.50 O. clock IN the
morning aud lunch at O'Clock, IN ad
dition to the MONDAY repast.
VACATION TRIPS, TOO.
The school hours are from $50 TO 1880
and from = until + o'clock. Specia
classes are ia session from until 8. anC
all day Thursday, for the accommodation
OF the children whose parents are away
from home all day. The school year last:
len months, but during the vacation the
State continues to look after the young
sters.
Vacation trips. varying from one tc
thirty days, are provided, the Directors
III the Board of Education maintaining
that the pupil will not profit by the in
struction unless be has had a pleasant
vacation. In the distribution of these
fresh-air prizes the preference is given &c
the best-behaved, the poorest children
being selected for the long trips.
Corporal punishment Is not tolerated
IN the French schools. No child is ever
jerked, pushed or shaken, and very
rarely is a child scoided. Every class
from the cradle clement in the Mater
nelle School TO the brightest has its roll
of honor and it's nickel medals. with
bright ribbons and fiatlering inscriptions
aud these, with the free scholarships, free
holiday trips, prize books and honorable
mention, are more than ample for pertec
department and admirable discipline.
In addition to this paternal interest, the
Government supplies books and all the
other school REQ quisltes- The boys In the
professional schools where physics anC
chemistry, cabinet work. printing and
book binding, mechanical industries
practical drawing and the application o
the fine arts are taught are not under
one sou of expense; education in the
girls professional school is equally fret
Prize winners in the high schools are
sent TO college and the State pays the bill
Tor three and often five years study anC
living expenses.
FOR VERY LITTLE TOTS.
There are 14l maternelle schools in tn.
city of Paris. The hours are from S:3t
q. N. until 1 d. M, Dut the mother Is IL
residence, with a cook and bonne, anC
babies OF the laboring classes are received
as early as a. III. and kept until y. IN
The instruction given in these maternellt
schools is after the kindergarten system
The pupils are seated two at a desk, The
top OF which IS marked of in variety o
squares, for bead, straw, paper and wooC
work.
1t would amply repay the progressive
American mother or lnfant-schoo
teacher to 60 TO Paris and make tht
round of these schools fer babies. To be
sure there are Indifferent and inefficient
principals and assistants, but the good
ones are very, very good. The great
thing is 10 create, to mako something else
with the material at hand, aud so a child
with an advertising bill Will be aided il
converting II into a doll for his sister or &
little dish for his mothers pins, while d
boy with q gingerbread lion carves ou1
two or three cubs and is satisfied TO eal
the crumbs left over. Penholders. hair
pins, buttonhooks and q host of other
things are made with macaroni, anC
really clever caricatures are designed
with a match, bread aud bits of sugar
and dried fruits.
A NEW TOY EACH DAY.
A source of never-ending delight is th'
cabinet OF toys. 10 which manufacturer.
and dealers make frequent contri buttons