New-York tribune., 1903-08-30

Paris, August 10.
A recent development in the existing educa-
tional system Of France which will have far
reaching consequences is the effort now being
made to popuiarize education by bringing the
means Of special technical instruction within
the reach OF the humblest members Of the com
1nunity. 1t impossible that the spirit of
reform which distinguishes the Third Republic
should leave untouched important depart
nlent as that of public instruction and educa-
ton. The growth of republican ideas, with
their tendency to raise the value of the indi-
vidual. created imperative demand for some
thing more than the primary schools-admirable
though they are-could give to the working
classes. To meet this want. NJ. Jules Ferry
and his Jealous collaboration, Paul Bert, founded
the system Of continuation schools being
experimentaIly worked, and though necessarily
imperfect their usefulness is amply attested by
the report which for the last nine years has an
nually made its appearance. The returns for
1902 show that three and half million persons
attended the evening classes held throughout
the country in all towns and villages where a
body of sixty thousand male and female teachers
have given special technical instruction in every
branch Of work.
Yet this great movement, truly national
though it be, is not wholly the work of the
State. Out of the 100000 francs which it has
cost the country. only 100000 have been fur
nished by the treasury; the guilds and societies
of the various trades. together with the munich
lpalities and parish councils, have supplied all
the rest while the State has set an official seal
on the work by distributing violet ribbon deco
rations on those whose cooperation has con-
tributed to its success.
But the work Of the reforrners did not end
there. In view of that striking feature OF mod
ern national Ife-the female labor market-it
was evident that the State had also a duty to
perform toward these working women in fitting
them for their role of breadwinners. Outside
the convent, with it's wholly primary and do
nestle training, there was in France until
Gently no provision for the higher and more
practical education of girls of the middle and
upper classes. The efforts Of NJ. Paul Bert in
this direction were wholly successful. Colleges
or lycees, were opened by the State, in which
girls might receive the same educational ad-
vantages their brothers. This was a good
beginning, but more needed. Intensely con-
servative as the French are, there were few
fields of labor open to women. While in Sweden
for years past the may enter every pro-
fession, excepting only the Church and the
army; while in England, America and Canada
important government posts. involving great re-
sponsibility, such inspectorships OF factories
are conferred women; while. for the last
been freely admitted the faculties Of law
and hundreds-espeeiall in the Western States
plead at the bar, it was only reluctantly and
recently that France opened. first, the teaching
profession, and then her hospitals and law
schools to women students. This last conces-
sion was made after a long struggle carried on
by the party known as the Feminists, and
two @ women have now been admitted to plead
at the French bar. This summer has seen an
other step gained by the Feminists. Although
women students were admitted to the hospitals
and allowed to take their diplomas. no post of
anv Importance was conferred on them: this
month. however, the faculty OF Montpelier have
appointed a woman TO the post CT clinical gyne-
coIogy and accouchenent. Another landmark is
furnished by Auxerre, where Nine. Paul Bert
the widow of the educationalist, was invited by
the authorities of the Girls Lycee to preside
at the distribution OF the prizes. serious func-
ton in France, at which, hitherto women have
only been allowed TO assist in the character Of
lookerson
But the is heavily handicapped in another
way In the matter Of wages the grossest in
equality between the sexes exists and this may
be said of other countries Of Europe besides
France. AS a matter of fact, only Switzerland
recognizes the duty of paying the fair market
price of labor, irrespective of the sex of the