POLYTECHNIQUE (fcoLE POLYTECIINIQUE). or POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL (Gr. polo, many; art), was first established in Paris (1794) by the national convention, under name of ecole des traraux public. (school of public works). No students were admitted but those who intendts1 to enter the public service; and though the general object of the institution was the supplying of welt-educated voitths to all branches, it was more par ticularly devoted to the thorough instruction of recruits for the corps of civil and mili tary engineers. The institution received the Dame of "il.cole polvtechnique in 1795. The pupils were at first 349 in number, and each received, during a's stay of two years in the institution, an annual stipend of 1200 francs (C48 nearly); the teachers were in most cases the most eminent savants of France. In 1799 some modifications were intro duced into the working of the school; the outuber of pupils was at the same time limited to 200, and they were put into uniform. The advantages of an institution of this sort, when ably conducted, soon made themselves evident, and the polytechnique, in conse quence, rose into high estimation, not only in France, but throughout Europe, so much so, that it became common for foreign nations, when entering into a treaty with France, to stipulate for the admission of a certain number of their subjects into the institution, after passing the presaibed entrance examination. In 1804 the emperor Napoleon intro duced various modifications into its working, mid gave it it military organization; it was also removed from the Palais Bourbon (where it had existed from its first establishment) to the old college of Navarre. The institution became more and more, as the end of the Napoleonic empire drew near, a training-school for young artillerists and engineers; and such was the enthusiasm of the pupils in the emperor's cause, that, after the disasters of 1814, they demanded to be enrolled en masse in the ranks of the French army. however, Napoleon was (to use his own words) not inclined " to kill the hen for the golden eggs;" but he allowed them to form three out of the twelve companies of which the artillery corps of the national guard was composed. These three companies rendered important service in manning the walls of Paris, and behaved heroically in the battle of Mar. 30, 1814. After the first restoration, the polytechnique, being considered to be evil-disposed to the government, suffered considerable reductions; hut was restored to its former importance for the brief period of the " hundred days." After the second restoration (•uly, 1815), the staff of professors was remodeled; Lacroix and some others were dis missed, and replaced by Poisson, Arrgo, Cauchy,- etc. Notwithstanding these changes, the government still had its doubts as to the loyalty of the establishment, and took advan tage of an outbreak, April 3, 1816, to break it up. It was reconstituted in September of the same year, under a revised code of regulations, and in 1822 the old severity of mili tary discipline was restored. Daring the war of 1870-71, the government of , national detense ordered the pupils to meet at Bordeaux, and classes were opened there under distinguished pupils of the school brought from all parts of France. However the
attempt had to be abandoned, and the pupils having sought permission to take part in the war, were divided among the different sections of the army, in which their services were highly appreciated. The constitution of the school, which has so frequently suf fered change, was in the end of 1873 regulated by decret of Nov. 30, 1863, and minis terial rules issued on Mar, 5, 1857. 1. No pupil can be admitted unless he has been successful in the public competitive examination which is held each year. 2. The con ditions of admission to the competitive examination are, that the candidate shall be a Frenchman; that he shall be more than 16, and less than 20 years of age, on the 1st of January of that year; and that he shall be either a bachelor of letters or a bachelor of sciences of the university of France. If he holds both degrees he is allowed 50 marks in the examination for admission. 3. Regular soldiers are admitted up to the age of 25 years. provided they have been on real and effective service for two years. 4. The charge for board is 1000 francs (:£40) per annum, and the cost of outfit (to be also paid by the pupil) itbont 600 francs. 5. The duration of the course of instruction is two years: the pupils, after finishing their course, must pass a final examination; the successful candidates. if found to be physically qualified, are arranged in order of merit, and choose in order what branch of the public service they wish to cuter. 6. The branches of the public service which are recruited from tire polytcelinique are, the corps of land and naval artillery, military and naval engineers, the imperial marine, the corps of hydro graphic engineers, that of engineers of roads, bridges, and mines, the corps of staff officers, the superintendence of telegraphs and gunpowder and tobacco manufactories: and generally every department which, requiring special scientific knowledge, may be added by djcrelR to these.
The following branches of stmly were embraced in the curriculum in 1873: Mathe matics, physics, chemistry and chemical nmnipulation, history and literature, German, written exercises, drawing, geodesy, mechanics, architecture, art militaire. Lessons in fencing, inusic, and dancing are given out as optional, and must be separately paid for. The number of pupils varies with the requirements of the public service. In 1794 there were 396 pupils; in 1820 only 66. During the first empire, the numbers increased from 110 in 1808, to 227 in 1S13; under Louis Philippe the average number was 130. During the second empire, it had risen to 140 and 150. After the war with Germany in 1870-71 the number rose to 260. The numerous and admirably equipped technical schools of Germany (see TECHNICAL EDUCATION in Sapp., vol. x.), often called polytechnica, have received no military restriction, and are available for all interested in the industrial arts; they are in many cases scientific centers comparable to the universities.