Part 31 (1/2)

With the lower _primary_ school (_ecole primaire elementaire_), which covers the period of froins coht separately except in villages of less than five hundred inhabitants The pupils all dress in the saarb The school is in session five days in the week, Thursdays being free There is no religious instruction in the schools A peculiar and very iistration for each child, in which specimens of work in each subject are entered once a month for the whole school course This book is kept at the school, and furnishes an accurate indication of progress to parents or inspectors[176]

Following the _lower priher primary_ (_ecole primaire superieure_), which has two courses, one for pupils ish to review their elementary work and add so for the ordinary walks of life; and the high school course for those ish to prepare for acadeth; the latter requires five years, thus being cohteenth year Here appears another superiority over the German system, in which, it will be remeh school

These high schools prepare for the normal school and for the university

There are also many other kinds of schools under State support,--such as technical schools, apprentice schools, schools of, France surpasses all other countries

Finally there are the State universities, fifteen in number, the professors of which are appointed by the State While the State pays all salaries, the s depends upon fees, endowments, and such local support as is obtainable These institutions are open to students fro a cohest, and offering reiven by the State, thereby securing perfect uniformity

=Support of Schools=--All of the schools above mentioned, from the _mother_ school to the university, are free The expenses are distributed as follows: (1) The State pays the salaries of all teachers, administrators, and inspectors, and all the expenses of the normal schools Thus it will be seen that the bulk of the expense of education is borne by the State in general (2) The _departements_ erect the normal school and furnish the apparatus and supplies for the same (3) The _communes_ pay for the needed supplies, for the janitor, and for other local necessities of the elementary schools They may also tax themselves to increase the salaries of teachers beyond the State allowance Each community thus has the power to decide whether it will be content with an average school,the State requireht by the best teachers obtainable

=The Teachers=--There are two classes of norhty-seven for hty-five for women,--practically one for each sex in each of the departher, of which there is one for artners Nearly all teachers are graduates of normal schools, and as no candidates for positions are considered unless they hold a normal certificate, in the near future all the teachers of France will be professionally trained

Candidates for admission to the norood e themselves to teach for not less than ten years[177] The ele teacher is appointed provisionally until he has taken a final examination, which must be within ten years If he has been successful in the schoolroom, as well as in this second examination, he becomes a permanent teacher, and can be removed only for immorality

The course in the advanced nor upon the preparation hich the candidate enters Only those between eighteen and twenty-five can be admitted These schools train principals, superintendents, inspectors, and teachers for the elementary normal schools They are the model schools of France, and shape the educational practice of the republic Graduates fro the higher nored to prepare theher work

No other country in the world does soteachers in their preparation In all of the normal schools mentioned, tuition, board, rooraduated, the State recognizes its oork by giving him the preference in appointments

There are five classes of teachers in the eleraduate teacher begins in the lowest class and works his way up The annual salaries for the different classes are indicated by the following table:--

--------------------+-------------+----------- CLassES OF TEACHERS | MEN | WOMEN --------------------+-------------+----------- Fifth Class | 20000 | 20000 Fourth Class | 24000 | 24000 Third Class | 30000 | 28000 Second Class | 36000 | 30000 First Class | 40000 | 32000 --------------------+-------------+-----------

Additional allowances are e schools, and the _communes_ often supplement the above amounts

The annual salaries of principals are as follows:--

-------------+------------+------------------- | HIGHER | | PRIMARY | NORMAL SCHOOLS PRINcipaLS |------------+---------+--------- | Both sexes | Men | Women -------------+------------+---------+--------- Fifth Class | 36000 | 70000 | 60000 Fourth Class | 40000 | 80000 | 70000 Third Class | 45000 | 90000 | 80000 Second Class | 50000 | 100000 | 90000 First Class | 56000 | 110000 | 100000 -------------+------------+---------+---------

The assistants in these schools receive:--

-------------+------------+------------------- | HIGHER | | PRIMARY | NORMAL SCHOOLS assISTANTS |------------+---------+--------- | Both sexes | Men | Women -------------+------------+---------+--------- Fifth Class | 24000 | 50000 | 44000 Fourth Class | 28000 | 54000 | 48000 Third Class | 32000 | 58000 | 52000 Second Class | 38000 | 62000 | 56000 First Class | 44000 | 68000 | 60000 -------------+------------+---------+---------

In addition to these amounts there is also a small allowance for rent

After thirty-five years of service, the teacher may retire upon three fourths of his salary as a pension

Without doubt France has outstripped all other nations in educational progress during the last twenty-five years,--the period in which her school systens of advance in French education are _the establishment of free schools_ (1881); _compulsory education and the secularization of the schools_ (1882); and _the restriction of teachers to lay persons_ (1886)[178] The strong features of the French school system may be stated as follows:--

1 _Co the period from early childhood till the prescribed education is finished

2 _Thoroughly trained teachers_

3 _Two kinds of normal schools_ to meet the various educational requirements of teachers

4 _Liberal support_ of schools of all kinds