A law, June.21 1865, founded anew course of study in secondary schools—a special secondary instruction. The object of the special secondary instruction is declared to lie to the sub-olficers of industry;" instruction in living substi tuted for the classical instruction of the secondary schools; the elements of science and its applications receive great attention—particular regard being had to the teaching, of agriculture and the sciences which hear upon it. The teaching, moreover, is to impart what may be called a French education. A. normal school leis been founded at Cluny for the preparation of masters tor this special secondary instruction.
For primary Instruction in France an excellent basis was laid by 31. Guizot's law of 1833, of which, indeed, the more important provisions have been retained. Since the re-establishment of the French republic education has repeatedly been the subject of legislation; in the main, the provisions as to primary education ore regulated by the laws pissed between 1850 and 1867. Every commune must maintain an school, either by itself or in combination with other communes; in founding and maintaining its schools it is to be aided, if necessary, by the department and by the state. It must have taxed itself specially for i the schools three centimes per franc of rental before it can claim aid; the department must have taxed itself specially two centimes for the com munal schoola before the state is resorted to. Up to the present year a certain number of poor children—the number determined for each school by the prefect of the depart ment—were admitted to the school gratuitously; for others a fee was charged, which was collected every month by the tax-gatherer. The state contributed whatever was necessary in addition to the communal and departmental taxation and the sehool-fees. The law of the present year, however, provides that all children are to be admitted gra tuitously whose parents would have difficulty in paying the school-fee; and that a com mune whose taxation amounts to four centimes additional may dispense with the school fee altogether, the deficiency, if any, so arising being made up by the state. In the' large towns the schools have long been gratuitous—the communes often taxing them selves for school-purposes beyond the amount required by law. Up to the year 1867 the law did not oblige the communes to maintain separate schools for girls, though a large proportion of them contributed towards the maintenance of such schools. The law of 1867 provides for the establishment of girls' schools; the cost of them—the communal and departmental taxation being in most places previously exhausted—will fall in a great' measure upon the state.
Religious instruction is given in every school. In France, the Roman Catholic. the Protestant, and the Jewish forms of worship are subsidized by the state; and it is pro vided that, in communes where more than one of these is publicly professed, each form is to have its separate school. The departmental council, however, has power to authorize
the union, in a common school, of children belonging to different communions. For such cases, it is provided that ministers of each communion. shall have free and equal access to the school, at separate times, to attend to the religious instruction of members of their own flock. To a school appropriated to one denomination, no child belonging to another is admitted, except at the express demand of his parent or guardian, signified in writing to the teacher. Denominational schools are now the rule, common schools the exception. Previously to 1850, under M. Gaizot's law, common schools were the rule, but it wits found that in them the religious instruction presented grave practical difficul ties. All the religious bodies appear to be satisfied with the present system. The schools, though denominational, are.communal schools; the denominations have not the management of them; and they are all subject to the seine inspection.
The mayor and the minister of religion in each commune have the supervision and moral direction of the primary school; in practice they are strictly confined to matters • connected with its morality. Cantonal delegates are appointed by the departmental Connell (the canton is a division larger than the commune), who inspect the primary schools of their canton; but they have no real authority over the schools; they are only allowed to make representations as to the state of the schools to the departmental council, or to the inspector. .The departmental council has the chief part in the regulation of the primary schools; moreover, no private primary school can be opened without its permis sion; and if it refuse permission, there is no appeal. It is the prefect, however, who has the power of nominating, suspending, and dismissing public primary teachers. Ilia authority is usually exercised upon the report of the academy inspector—the university official whose important functions, in respect of secondary instruction, have already been described. The academies have the charge of the normal schools of primary instruc tion, and the supervisiou of the primary schools as regards the methods of teaching and course of study. Under them are the primary inspectors, who report to the academy inspectors; above the latter, as regards primary instruction, there are four inspector generals, attached to the office of education at Paris. It is the primary inspector who really superintends the instruction of the schools; his labors are unceasing, his inspection Is a reality, for lie i e s not required to give notice of his visits. The private primary schools are subject to his inspection, but only as regards the provision made for the bodily health and comfort of the pupils and the maintenance of morality.