New-York tribune., 1907-01-18
FRENCH BACCALAUREAT
Proposed abolition of This Require
ment for Professional Training.
Paris. January I.

Paris. January L
M Ciemenceau's Cabinet has submitted TO the
ohainoer OF Deputies drastic reform which. If
carried out. will greatly modify the present
Hletnoos OF education in the French universi-
ues and lycees. NJ. BRAND, the Minister Of Edu-
cation Fine Arts and Public Worship seems
determined to complete the measures of pub
Ii' instruction on the radical lines begun by
jules Ferry and Paul Bert. The Third Republic
mas now completely democratized the army is
hghtlng to insure independence for the French
GeIsy' and now proposes to purify the third
great national institution, the university. NJ.
brland has expressed his intention of abolishing
'he paccalaureat," bachelors degree con-
lerred upon the boys graduating from the lycee,
and without which they cannot obtain admission
TO professional or technical school, nor enter
upon the official curriculum necessary for the
learned professions. This is nothing less than
revolution in the French educational system.
10 appreciate the meaning OF the reform pro-
posed by NJ. BRAND 1t should be borne in mind
that the basis of the present organization Of
schools and colleges is the centralized discipli-
nary edifce created by Napoleon /, In which the
minds and characters OF the French youth were
moulded In conformity with the political system
tnen in force. The university enjoyed the
monopoly of public education
The term university in France is applied to
all the public educational establishments, and
embraces not only the higher instruction which
gives the training for the liberal professions but
also the secondary education in the colleges and
lycees as we'll as the primary education, which
since the adoption of the Jules Ferry laws, in
1882, has been compulsory and gratuitous for
all children from six to thirteen. The right to
confer degrees is the exclusive privilege of the
government, and the ''baocalaureat" is given TO
students who have successfully passed their ex-
emlnations at the colleges and lycees, which cor
respond to the high schools I'm the United States.
The "baccalaureat' degree is not merely hon
orary but constitutes the only test to settle the
claims of most candidates who compete for pub
lie or private careers, such those OF judges,
lawyers. physicians. engineers, architects. etc.
NJ. BRAND considers that the present methods
for obtaining the "baccalaureat" are obsolete and
harmful. The lads at the high schools pass sew
eral years in 'cramming" for examinations by
paTrotlike methods. In which there Is a lamen-
table absence of development of the reasoning
faculties of individual research. NJ. BRAND
says that the baccaiaureat Is a premium on
parrot learning" French boys pass their time
IN shoyelling into their brains and memories
castiron formula and artificial rules. which they
unload mechanically when the time comes for
the examinations. The youngsters commit 10
memory appalling mass OF rules, theorems
historic events. lists of names, places and dates
that purely mechanical. 1t is IL they were
obliged to spend hours each day in training par
ticular muscles to perform certain feats. while
the healthy condition OF the body is neglected
The ''baccalaureat" has become a sort OF "pons
asinorum' which must be crossed blindfolded
it were. before entering upon an active pro-
fessioRal career. and It's abolition would be
severe blow to the routine pedagogism that per-
meates the present system OF education.
1t should be borne in mind that NJ BRAND. IN
his capacity OF Minister OF Education. is also
de facto rector OF the Academy OF Paris. NJ
BRAND. like Jules Ferry. Gambetta and Paul
Bert. the three men who have done more for
public education IN France than any other
statesmen since Bonaparte, is a disciple OF the
positive philosophy OF Auguste Comte. The
Ferry laws. which regulate the present educa-
uonal system, are based upon the principles OF
the encyclopedias of the eighteenth century as
formulated by Condorcet in his regulations sub
nitted 10 the Constituent Assembly, and which
We're subsequently embodied by Napoleon IN his
organization OF the imperial Capitalization sys-
TEN OF the university. NJ BRAND feels con-
WINGED that the abolition OF the empty, parrot
hke cramming now practised Will give way TO
thorough and wholesome development OF the
reasoning powers and viii prepare the way for
fair and aboveboard ompetition in obtaining
entrance to public and private careers or profess
sions. regardless Of the condition precedent to
possessing the "baccalaureat" degree. It Is
out-and-out democratic measure. and those
opposed TO NJ. Brands scheme pronounce II to
be 'utopian and ehimericaL" NJ. BRAND and
Prime Minister Clemenoeau, however both
confident OF the practical soundness of sup
pressing the "baccalaureat," which they say Is
completely out OF date. AS far be ascer-
tanned, the majority Of the Chamber OF Deputies
and at least one half Of the Senate VIII support
the Cabinet in this question involving the vital
reform OF French education. c. l. q.
tn nTcGITcc NEGRo,S DEVET0pMrNT,