The Protestants have theological seminaries at two towns remote from each other, Montauban and Strasburg, and students who have gone through their course at Geneva and Lausanne are eligible to clerical charges in France.
While the establishment of elementary schools went on tardily, the caw was v different in re gard to the Lobs, or grog WI- oohs frequented by the sons of the middle and upper classes.- These were the objects of Bonaparte's care, both as a nursery for officers, and as a means of in teresting the parents in his government. With that view he provided them with a number of bourses or scholarships, and put the discipline of the whole under the direction of the Commission d'Instruction Publiyue, at Paris. A Lyc6e consists, in general, of a spacious range of stone buildings, like one of the Colleges in an English University, with courts and play grounds, the whole inclosed with walls. The pupils, at least those who board in the establishment, are under considerable restraint, and go out only with the leave of the proviseur or superintendent. Of the objects of education, the principal are Latin and mathematics ; the former occupying four or five years, the latter generally two. Along with these are taught writing and drawing ; also geography and history ; to which, in the time of Bonaparte, was added the military exercise. The whole course oc cupies six, seven, or eight years, according to the aptitude of the pupil. The teachers, or professors, as the French complaisantly style them, are, in gene rah men of education, but seldom animated with that spirit of activity and vigilance which would be form. ed in an establishment exclusively their own, inde pendent for its increase on their personal exertion. As to expence, the board and education of a boy, at a Lyc6e, costs from L.15 to L.80 in provincial towns, and L. S6 at Paris. On these payments is levied a tax of 5 per cent., called tan enisersitaire. A similar impost exists on private schools, with the exception of those for mere reading and writing; and the money thus collected is remitted to the Cen. tral Board at Paris. To this fund is added, by the Chambers, an annual vote of from L.60,000 to L.80,000, and the whole is appropriated to purposes connected with public education ; in particular to the salaries of the teachers of the less frequented Lycfies. Public examinations are held at these ems. blishments, and prizes distributed periodically—the whole on a plan calculated to excite emulation ; but no consideration can justify the monopoly of teaching granted to Lycees by Bonaparte, and not yet withdrawn by the Bourbons—a monopoly which empowers the inspector of a Lyc6e to prevent Lath being taught at private schools. This and other abuses it has been repeatedly proposed to correct, by a definitive law on public education; but that measure, from the urgency of other business, bas been postponed from year to year.
Of the lower orders in France, whether in town or country, it is computed that not more than the half are taught to read, in consequence, chiefly, of the want of schools in thinly-peopled districts. The le. gislature has, at different times, particularly in Few bruary 1816, acknowledged this want, and autho rized rectors of universities to grant certificates of capacity as teachers to all persons who should be found duly qualified ; but no salary is provided, and the aid given by theof a cossiessae is, in general, limited to a I-room or dwelling for a teacher. In this state of education, schools on the'
plan of Bell and Lancaster could bonny fail to be' favourably received in France. They bear the new of Books d'enseignenwast steguei; and are at present (1840) in number nearly 800; the scholars amount to 80,000. These schools are scattered throughout the kingdom, having been adoptid or declined ac cording as the inhabitants or magistrates of a pro vincial town were disposed in favour of them, or of the rival Catholic establishments, managed by the Freres de la doctrine Chretienne; a body of teachers supported by the Catholic clergy, while the schools of enseignement mutuel are patronized by the liberaux, or moderate revolutionists. Government has taken no decided part, but has given its sanction to either, as desired by the inhabitants of particular districts. The new plan is, however, acquiring a decided pre ponderance, the schools of the Freres de la doctrine not exceeding 150 in number. • The Ecole Normale is a seminary at Paris for train ing teachers, who are, in general, young men of ta lent, and receive appointments as masters of schools of the second class, or as assistant teachers at the Lycees. The course lasts generally three years, and the number of students, formerly 70 or 80, is now only between 50 and 60. The education of girls in France takes place partly at boarding-schools, partly at convents. Of the total number of pupils at the seminaries of France, great and small, the latest return was, in 1815, as follows : The Institute, established during the Revolu tion, and treated all along with distinction by Bo naparte, has been maintained by the Bourbons without any material change, except its division in 1816 into four academies. Each academy has the separate management of its affairs, but the library, the secretarial department and the collections re main common to all. The Academie Franfaise, composed of forty members, is charged with the de. partment of the French language ; that of the In scriptions et Belles Lettres, with antiquities, monu ments, history, and the moral and political sciences connected with history. The Academy of Sciences is divided into a number of sections, partly for Ma thematics, partly for Natural History. That of the Beaux Arts is also divided into sections, viz. for painting, sculpture, architecture, engraving, and music. A fund is allotted annually by government to pay the salaries of the members of the Institute, the secretaries, and other persons employed ; also for scientific experiments, prizes, &c. The prizes annually distributed by the Academie Fran, faise and of Inscriptions are of the value of L. 60 ; and of twice that value from the Academy of Sciences. The Academie des Beaux Arts gives annual prizes in painting, sculpture, architecture, and music, one for each, and the candidates who gain them are sent to Rome to study at the expence of government. The number of Academiciens is about 200, exclusive of honorary members (Academiciens libres), who are generally public characters of eminence. In elect ing new members, the usage is for the Academy to nominate and present their choice for confirmation to the King. Each of the academies has its corre spondents in foreign parts.